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AN 


ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 


OF 


FAMILY  AND  CHRISTIAN  NAMES. 


WITH  AN  ESSAY, 


ON  THEIR  DERIVATION  AND  IMPORT. 


BY 

WILLIAM  ARTHUR,  M.A. 


"To  find  out  the  true  originall  of  surnames  is  full  of  difflcultie." 

Camden. 


NEW  YORK: 
SHELDON,  BLAKEMAN  &  CO. 

No.    115    NASSAU    STREET. 
1857. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1856,  by 

WILLIAM    ARTHUB, 

In  fhe  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  f6r  the  Northern 
District  of  New  York. 


STEREOTYPED  BY  PRIWIED  BY 

Thouas   B.    Smith,  J .    J .    B  s  s  D , 

2&8i  Beekman  Street.  16  Spnice  St. 


■Ays 


PREFACE 


The  Author  has  been  induced  to  publish  this  volume, 
from  the  opinions  expressed  by  a  number  of  literary- 
friends,  that  a  work  on  the  origin  and  import  of  Family- 
Names  would  be  a  valuable  addition  to  the  current 
literature  of  this  country.  He  is  not  aware  that  a  Dic- 
tionary of  this  kind  has  ever  before  been  published, 
embracing  surnames  derived  from  the  Enghsh,  Saxon, 
Dutch,  Danish,  German,  Welsh,  GaeUc  (Celtic),  Cor- 
nish-British, and  other  languages. 

From  this  consideration  he  is  inclined  to  indulge  the 
hope  that  the  book  will  be  acceptable  not  only  to  the 
Philologist,  but  to  readers  in  general  who  may  have 
the  curiosity  to  know  the  origin  and  signification  of 
their  own  names. 

Much  labor  has  been  spent  upon  the  Dictionary.  It 
has  been  prepared  by  long  and  careful  research  and 
study  of  the  several  languages  from  which  the  names 
are  derived. 

In  the  outlines  of  the  Introductory  Essay  the  author 
is  indebted  for  much  valuable  information  to  the 
"  learned  Camden," — "  Camden's  Remaines  concerning 
Britaine,"  London,  1614. 


§^mms 


IV  PREFACE. 

He  has  read  with  pleasure  an  interesting  and  amus- 
ing "  Essay  on  English  Surnames,"  by  Mark  Antony 
Lower,  M.A.,  London,  1849,  from  which  he  has  taken 
many  curious  observations  and  humorous  anecdotes  on 
several  names  given  in  that  work. 

Available  aid  has  also  been  obtained  from  a  series  of 
articles  on  L-ish  Surnames,  by  Mr.  John  O'Donovan, 
published  in  the  "Irish  Penny  Journal,"  Dublin,  1841 ; 
from  "  Bailey's  English  Dictionary,"  20th  edition,  1764 ; 
"Playfair's  British  Family  Antiquity,"  London,  1811 ; 
and  from  "  Burke's  Genealogical  and  Heraldic  Diction- 
ary of  the  Landed  Gentry  of  Great  Britain  and  L-eland," 
London,  1848. 

In  a  volume  of  this  size  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that 
the  origin  and  meaning  of  every  surname  can  be  found, 
nevertheless,  from  an  attentive  perusal  of  the  Intro- 
ductory Essay,  and  the  several  derivations  of  the  names 
given,  a  majority  of  Family  and  Christian  names  may 
be  ascertained  with  a  good  degree  of  accuracy. 

From  the  nature  and  difficulty  of  the  work,  arising 
in  many  instances  from  the  mutation  and  corruption  of 
the  original  names,  the  change  of  customs  and  language, 
and  the  frequent  similarity  of  the  roots  from  which 
many  of  the  words  are  derived,  it  can  not  be  otherwise 
than  in  many  respects  imperfect. 

Nbwtonville,  Albany  Co.,  N.T., 
November,  1856. 


AN    ESSAY 


THE    ORIGIN    AND    IMPORT 


FAMILY  IN-^MES. 


Names  commenced  in  Eden.  The  Creator  be- 
stowed on  the  first  man  the  name  of  Adam^  denot- 
ing his  origin  firom  the  earth.  Eve  gave  to  her 
first  born  the  name  of  (7am,  implying  acquisition,  a 
standing  testimony  of  her  faith  in  the  first  promise 
made  to  man  in  Eden. 

The  signification  of  the  Hebrew  names  recorded 
in  the  5th  chapter  of  Grenesis,  when  arranged  in 
order,  present  an  epitome  of  the  ruin  and  recovery 
of  man  through  a  Eedeemer : 


Adam,      i.  e., 

"  Man  in  the  image  of  God;" 

Seth, 

"  Substituted  by ;" 

Enos, 

"Frail  Man;" 

Canaan, 

"Lamenting;" 

Mahalaleel, 

"The  blessed  God;" 

Jared, 

"Shall  come  down;" 

Enoch, 

"Teaching;" 

6  ESSAY  ON  THE  OKIGIN  AND 

Methuselah,      *'  His  deatli  shall  send  j" 
Lamech,  "  To  the  hnmble ;" 

Noah,  "'  Eest  or  consolation."* 

These  names  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  re- 
corded, read  thus:  "To  man,  once  made  in  the 
image  of  God,  now  substituted  by  man  frail  and  full 
of  sorrow,  the  blessed  God  himself  shall  come  down 
to  the  earth  teaching,  and  his  death  shall  send  to 
the  humble,  consolation." 

The  son  of  Abraham  and  Sarah,  by  divine  direc- 
tion was  to  bear  the  name  of  IsaaCj  signifying  laugh- 
ter, in  allu^on  to  the  circumstances  recorded  of  the 
father  of  the  faithfiit  in  the  17th  chapter  of  Genesis, 
In  like  manner  Jacob  received  the  name  Yaakobj 
that  is,  he  shall  '*  hold  by  the  heel"  or  supplant,,  a 
prediction  which  was  fulfilled  when  he  supplant- 
ed his  brother  Esau,  in  the  matter  of  his  birthright. 

The  ancient  Hebrews  retained  the  greatest  sim- 
plicity in  the  use  of  names,  and  generally  a  single 
name  distinguished  the  individual.  Where  it  was- 
necessary  the  name  of  the  father  was  added,  and 
sometimes  that  of  the  mother,  if  she  happened  to  be 
more^  celebrated. 

Names  were  first  given  for  the  distinction  of  per- 
sons, and  each  individual  had,  at  the  beginning,  but 

*  Dr.  Curomings. 


SIGNIFICATION  OF  NAMES.  7 

one  proper  or  given  name,  as  Joseph  among  the 
Jews,  Amasis  among  the  Egyptians,  Arhaces  among 
the  Medians,  among  the  Greeks  Ulysses^  among  the 
Eomans  Bomulus,  the  Germans  AriovisttcSj  the  British 
Caradoc,  the  Saxons  Edric^  etc. 

The  Jews  named  their  children  the  eighth  day 
after  the  nativity,  when  the  rite  of  circumcision  was 
performed.  The  Greeks  gave  the  name  on  the 
tenth  day,  and  an  entertainment  was  given  by  the 
parents  to  their  friends,  and  sacrifices  offered  to  the 
gods. 

The  Eomans  gave  names  to  their  female  children 
on  the  eighth  day,  and  to  the  males  on  the  ninth, 
which  they  called  Dies  lustricus,  the  day  of  purifi- 
cation, on  which  day  they  solemnized  a  feast  called 
Nominalia. 

The  name  given  was  generally  indicative  of  some 
particular  circumstance  attending  the  birth  or  in- 
fancy, some  quality  of  body  or  mind,  or  was  ex- 
pressive of  the  good  wishes  or  fond  hopes  of  the 
parent.  Objects  in  nature,  the  most  admired  and 
beautiful,  were  selected  by  them  to  designate  their 
offspring.  The  sun,  the  moon  and  stars,  the  clouds, 
the  beasts  of  the  field,  the  trees  and  the  flowers  that 
adorn  the  face  of  nature,  were  all  made  subservient 
to  this  end. 

Pythagoras  taught  that  the  minds,  actions,  and 


8  ESSAY  ON  THE  ORIGIN  AND 

success  of  men  would  be  according  to  their  fate, 
genius  and  name^  and  Plato  advises  men  to  be  care- 
ful in  giving  fair  and  bappy  names. 

Sucb  hopeful  names  as  Victor ^  conqueror,  Felix, 
happy,  and  Fortunatm,  lucky,  were  called  by  Cicero, 
"  bona  nomina,"  good  names,  and  by  Tacitus,  "  fausta 
nomina,"  prosperous  names. 

"  Such  names  among  the  Komans  were  considered 
so  happy  and  fortunate,  that  in  the  time  of  Galienus, 
Kegilianus  who  commanded  in  the  ancient  Ulyricum, 
obtained  the  empire  in  consequence  of  the  deriva- 
tion of  his  name.  When  it  was  demanded  during 
a  banquet,  what  was  the  origin  of  Eegilianus,  one 
answered,  *  a  Begno^  to  reign,  to  be  a  king ;  another 
began  to  decline  *i^  (a  king),  Begis^  Regilianus^ 
when  the  soldiers  began  to  exclaim,  'Ergo  potest 
Eex  esse,  ergo  potest  regere,  Deus  tibi  regis  nomen 
imposuit,'  and  so  invested  him  with  the  imperial 
robes."* 

Lewis  the  Eighth,  King  of  France,  sent  two  of  his 
embassadors  to  Alphonso,  king  of  Spain,  to  solicit 
one  of  his  daughters  in  marriage.  When  the  young 
ladies,  whose  names  were  Urraca  and  Blanche,  were 
presented  to  the  embassadors,  they  made  choice  of 
Blanche,  though  far  less  beautiful  than  her  sister, 
assigning  as  a  reason  that  her  name  would  be 

*  Camden. 


SIGNIFICATION   OF  NAMES.  9 

better  received  in  France,  as  Blanche  signified  fair 
and  beautiful. 

So  the  proverb,  ^''Bonum  nomen  honum  omerU'^ — A 
'  good  name  is  a  good  omen. 

Names,  epithets,  and  soubriquets  were  often  be- 
stowed by  others  than  the  parents,  at  a  more 
advanced  age,  expressive  of  character  or  exploits, 
of  personal  beauty,  deformity  or  blemish — such  as, 
among  the  Greeks  TeAcjua;^©^  (Telemachus),  able  to 
sustain  the  war;  '^iXki'n-noq  (Philip),  a  lover  of 
horses  ;  *AAe|av(5pof  (Alexander),  a  benefactor  of 
men,  and  rpvTro^,  eagle-nose.  Among  the  Romans, 
Yictor^  a  conqueror ;  Strabo^  squint-eyed ;  Varus, 
bow  -  legged.  Among  the  Britons,  Cadwallader, 
the  leader  of  the  war.  Among  the  Gaels  or  Celts, 
Galgachj  or  Galgachus,  the  fierce  fighter  of  battles ; 
Guraidh,  a  hero. 

Among  the  Britons  and  Gaels,  names  were  taken 
from  those  animals  which  excelled  in  swiftness, 
fierceness,  boldness,  strength  or  courage,  as  the 
Lion,  the  Bear,  the  Wolf,  the  Mastiff,  The  follow- 
ing are  examples :  Llew,  Llewelyn,  Arthur,  Kee,  etc. 

Others  from  valor,  skill  in  war,  and  various 
mental  qualities,  as  Caw,  Cadwallon,  Cadwallader, 
Hardd;  Donald,  Duncan,  Fergus,  Oolom,  Gael,  Gar^ 
a<itacus* 

*  For  the  signification  of  these  names,  see  Dictionary. 


10  ESSAY  ON  THE   ORIGIN  AND 

Others  from  color.  Lloyd,  Brjch,  Winne,  Goch, 
Gorm,  Gwrmain,  Glass,  Dhu  or  Du,  Da  or  Day, 
Melyn,  Bane,  Cane,  Eoe,  &c. 

The  EoMANS  introduced  such  names  as  Julius, 
Claudius,  Felix,  Constans,  Constantine,  Augustus, 
Augustine,  etc.  The  Saxons  the  names  of  Charles, 
Edward,  Edmund,  Baldwin,  Oswald,  etc.  The 
Danes,  such  as  Hengist,  Horsa,  Sweyne,  Canute; 
and  the  Normans  chose  such  as  Eobert,  William, 
Richard,  Henry,  etc. 

Before  the  general  introduction  of  surnames,  the 
Britons  and  Celts,  for  the  sake  of  distinction,  used 
explanatory  names,  descriptive  of  personal  peculiar- 
ities, individual  pursuits,  mental  or  bodily  qualities, 
accidental  circumstances,  or  the  performance  of 
certain  actions.  These  names  have  been  called 
Soubriquets,  Cognomens,  and  Nicknames — such  as 
Howel  Da,  or  Howel  the  good;  Howel  y  Pedolau,  or 
Howel  of  the  horse-shoes,  so  called  from  being  able 
to  straighten  them  or  bend  them  by  manual  strength ; 
Cadrod  Hardd,  or  the  beautiful;  Ririd  Vlaidd,  or 
Ririd  the  Wolf;  Cunedda  Wledig,  or  the  Patriotic  ; 
Howel  y  Fwyall,  or  the  Battle  axe ;  Caswallon 
Law  hir,  or  the  long  hand ;  Lly  warch  Hen,  or  the 
aged;  Donald  Gorm,  or  Blue  Donald;  Malcolm 
Ganmore,  great  head. 

The  Gaels  of  Ireland  had  also  the  same  kind  of 


SIGNIFICATION   OF   NAMES.  11 

cognomens  or  descriptive  names,  as  Niall  Roe^  or 
Niall  the  Bed ;  Niall  More,  JSTiall  the  Great ;  Con 
Bachachj  Con  the  Lame ;  Henry  Avrey,  Henry  the 
Contentious;  Shane  au  JDimais,  John  the  Proud; 
.Shane  Buidhe,  or  John  with  the  yellow  hair ;  Shane 
Oearr^  John  Short;  Seumas  Bea^h^  James  the 
Swarthy;  O'Connor  Don^  the  Brown-haired  O'Con- 
nor.* 

Sir  Henry  Piers,  in  the  year  1682,  in  a  letter  to 
Anthony,  Lord  Bishop  of  Meath,  gave  the  follow- 
ing account  of  Irish  sobriquets  and  cognomens : 

*  *  *  u  They  take  much  liberty,  and  seem  to 
do  it  with  delight,  in  giving  of  nicknames ;  and  if  a 
man  have  any  imperfection  or  evil  habit,  he  shall 
be  sure  to  hear  of  it  in  the  nickname.  Thus,  if  he  be 
blind,  lame,  squint-eyed,  gray-eyed,  be  a  stammerer 
in  speech,  be  left-handed,  to  be  sure  he  shall  have 
one  of  these  added  to  his  name ;  so  also  from  his 
color  of  hair,  as  black,  red,  yellow,  brown,  etc. ;  and 
from  his  age,  as  young,  old;  or  from  what  he  ad- 
dicts himself  to,  or  much  delights  in,  as  in  draining, 
building,  fencing,  or  the  like ;  so  that  no  man  what- 
ever can  escape  a  nickname  who  lives  among  them, 
or  converseth  with  them ;  and  sometimes,  so  libidin- 
ous are  they  in  this  kind  of  raillery,  they  will  give 
nicknames  per  antiphrasim,  or  contrariety  of  speech. 

*  Mr.  John  O'Donovan,  Irish  Penny  Journal,  1841. 


12  ESSAY   ON  THE   ORIGIN  AND 

Thus  a  man  of  excellent  parts,  and  beloved  of  all 
men,  shall  be  called  Grana^  that  is,  naughty,  or  fit  to 
be  complained  of.  K  a  man  have  a  beautiful  coun- 
tenance or  lovely  eyes,  they  will  call  him  Cueegh^ 
that  is,  squint-eyed;  if  a  great  housekeeper,  he 
shall  be  called  Acherisagh,  that  is,  greedy." 

The  same  custom  prevailed  in  England,  and 
other  countries,  in  reference  to  descriptive  names, 
many  of  which  in  after  times  became  surnames  ;  as 
William  the  Lion;  Henry  the  Fowler;  Edmund 
Ironside;  Harold  Harefoot;  William  Kufus  (the 
Red) ;  Henry  Beauclerk  (fine  Scholar) ;  Richard 
Coeur  de  Lion  (the  Lion-hearted;  John  Lackland; 
Edward  Longshanks;  David  Crookshanks.  Some 
of  this  class  indicate  mental  qualities,  as  Good, 
Goodman,  Goodenough,  Best,  Sage,  Wise.  Others 
are  derived  from-  personal  appearance  or  bodily 
peculiarities,  as  Big,  Meikle,  Little,  Lightbody, 
Lightfoot,  Armstrong,  Greathead. 

Among  these  are  included  names  denoting  com- 
plexion, color  of  hair  and  dress,  as  Black,  Blond, 
Brown,  Gray,  Grissel,  Red,  Rufus,  Rous,  Russel, 
Rothe  (Germ,  red).  Roth  man,  Ruddiman,  Blacket 
or  Blackhead,  Whitelock,  and  Whitehead. 

Among  names  of  costume  are  found  Capet, 
Curthose  (short  hose),  Robe,  Mantle,  etc. 

The  custom  of  giving  nicknames  to  individuals 


SIGNIFICATION  OF  NAMES.  13 

bearing  hereditary  surnames  has  not  yet  been  dis- 
continued ;  and  in  many  localities,  the  peasantry  are 
better  known  by  soubriquets  than  by  their  proper 
surnames.  This  is  especially  the  case  where  several 
families  bear  the  same  sur-names. 

Mark  Antony  Lower,  M.  A.,  in  his  interesting 
and  amusing  Essay  on  Family  Nomenclature,  re- 
lates the  following  story,  as  given  by  a  correspond- 
ent of  Knight's  Quarterly  Magazine:  "I  knew  an 
apothecary  in  the  collieries,  who,  as  a  matter  of 
decorum,  always  entered  the  real  name  of  his 
patients  in  his  books;  that  is,  when  he  could 
ascertain  them.  But  they  stood  there  for  orna- 
ment ;  for  use^  he  found  it  necessary  to  append  the 
soubriquet,  which  he  did  with  true  medical  formal- 
ity, as,  for  instance,  'Thomas  Williams,  vulgo  diet, 
(vulgarly  called)  '  Old  Puff.'  " 

A  story  is  told  of  an  attorney's  clerk,  who  was 
professionally  employed  to  serve  a  process  on  one 
of  these  oddly-named  persons,  whose  real  name  was 
entered  in  the  instrument  with  legal  accuracy.  The 
clerk,  after  a  great  deal  of  inquiry  as  to  the  where- 
abouts of  the  party,  was  about  to  abandon  the 
search  as  hopeless,  when  a  young  woman,  who  had 
witnessed  his  labors,  kindly  volunteered  to  assist 
him. 

"Oy  say,  Bully ed^^  cried  she  to  the  first  person 


14  ESSAY  ON  THE  ORIGIN  AND 

they  met,  "  does  tliee  know  a  mon  neamed  Adam 
Green?"  The  bull -head  was  shaken  in  token  of 
ignorance. 

^'■Loy-a-hed^  dost  thee?" 

Lie-a-bed's  opportunities  of  making  acquaintance 
had  been  rather  limited,  and  she  could  not  resolve 
the  difficulty. 

Stumpy  (a  man  with  a  wooden  leg),  Cowshin^ 
Spmdlesha7ihs,  Cockeye,  and  Pigtail  were  severally 
invoked,  but  in  vain;  and  the  querist  fell  into  a 
brown  study,  in  which  she  remained  for  some  time. 
At  length,  however,  her  eyes  suddenly  brightened, 
and  slapping  one  of  her  companions  on  the  shoul- 
der, she  exclaimed  triumphantly,  "  Dash  my  wig  I 
whoy  he  means  moy  feyther !"  and  then  turning  to 
the  gentleman,  added,  "yo  should'n  ax'd  for  Ode 
(old)  Blackbird." 

It  is  stated  that  "few  of  the  miners  of  Stafford- 
shire bear  the  names  of  their  fathers;  and  an 
instance  is  given  of  a  certain  pig-dealer  in  that 
county  whose  father's  name  was  Johnson,  but  the 
people  call  him  Pigman^  and  Pigman  he  calls  him- 
self This  name  may  be  now  seen  over  the  door  of 
a  public-house  which  this  man  keeps  in  Stafford- 
shire."* 

In  this  connection  Mr.  Lower  adds :  "  There  were 

*  Mark  Antony  Lower,  M.  A.,  on  English  Surnames, 


SIGNIFICATION  OF  NAMES.  15 

lately  living  in  the  small  town  of  Folkestone,  Co. 
Kent  (Eng.),  fifteen  persons  whose  hereditary  name 
was  Hall,  but  who,  gratia-  distinctwnis,  bore  the 
elegant  designations  of 

Doggy  Hall,        Feathertoe, 
Bumper,  Bubbles, 

PiERCE-EYE,  Faggots, 

CULA,  JiGGERY, 

PUMBLE-FOOT,  COLDFLIP, 

SiLYER-EYE,  LUMPY, 

SuTTY,  Thick-lips. 

Old  Hare. 

A  Surname  is  an  additional  name  added  to  the 
Proper  or  given  name,  for  the  sake  of  distinction, 
and  so  called  because  originally  written  over  the 
other  name,  instead  of  after  it,  from  the  French 
Surnom,  or  the  Latin  ^^ Super  nomen^^^  signifying 
above  the  name. 

Surnames  have  originated  in  various  ways.  Some 
are  derived  from  the  names  of  places ;  others  from 
offices  and  professions ;  from  personal  peculiarities  ; 
from  the  Christian  or  proper  name  of  the  father; 
from  the  performance  of  certain  actions ;  from 
objects  in  the  animal,  mineral,  and  vegetable  world, 
and  from  accidental  circumstances  of  every  varied 
character. 


16  ESSAY  ON  THE  OEIGIN  AND 

The  introduction  of  surnames  arose  from  the 
necessity  of  the  case.  Soon  after  the  diffusion  of 
Christianity  among  the  nations  of  Europe,  their 
Pagan  names  were  generally  laid  aside,  and  the 
people  began  to  take  Hebrew  names,  such  as  Moses, 
Aaron,  Malachi,  David,  Matthew,  Mark,  Luke, 
John,  Peter,  James.  As  the  families  increased, 
many  persons  were  found  bearing  the  same  name. 
The  Johns,  and  the  Jameses,  and  the  Peters  became 
numerous. 

For  a  long  time,  soubriquets  and  nicknames,  like 
those  of  which  we  have  spoken,  and  patronymics, 
were  appended  to  the  name  to  distinguish  the  in- 
dividual, which  were  in  some  cases  retained,  and 
became  surnames,  but  by  degrees  this  means  of 
remedying  the  confusion  became  insufficient,  and  to 
identify  the  individual  more  distinctly,  surnames 
were  found  necessary. 

It  is  impossible  to  state  at  what  precise  period 
names  became  stationary,  or  began  to  descend  hered- 
itarily. According  to  Camden,  surnames  began  to 
be  taken  up  in  France  about  the  year  1000,  and 
in  England  about  the  time  of  the  Conquest  (1066), 
or  a  very  little  before,  under  King  Edward  the 
Confessor. 

He  says :  "  And  to  this  time  doe  the  Scottishmen 
referre  the  antiquitie  of  their  surnames,  although 


SIGNIFICATION  OF  NAMES.  17 

Buckanan  supposeth  that  they  were  not  in  use  in 
Scotland  many  yeares  after. 

"  But  in  England,  certaine  it  is,  that  as  the  better 
sort,  euen  from  the  Conquest,  by  little  and  little, 
took  surnames,  so  they  were  not  settled  among  the 
common  people  fully  vntil  about  the  time  of  King 
Edward  the  Second,  but  stni  varied  according  to 
the  father's  name,  as  Richardson^  if  his  father  were 
Eichard;  Hodgson^  if  his  father  were  Koger,  or  in 
some  other  respect,  and  from  thenceforth  began  to 
be  established  (some  say  by  statute)  in  their 
posteritie. 

"  This  will  seem  strange  to  some  Englishmen  and 
Scottishmen,  which,  like  the  Arcadians,  think  their 
surnames  as  ancient  as  the  moone,  or,  at  the  least, 
to  reach  many  an  age  beyond  the  Conquest.  But 
they  which  thinke  it  most  strange  (I  speake  vnder 
correction),  I  doubt  they  will  hardly  finde  any 
surname  which  descended  to  posteritie  before  that 
time ;  neither  have  they  scene  (I  fear)  any  deed  or 
donation  before  the  Conquest,  but  subsigned  with 
crosses  and  single  names,  without  surnames,  in  this 
manner,  in  England — *J«  Ego  Eadredus  confirmaui; 
4*  Ego  Edmundus  corrohoraui ;  *^  Ego  Sigarius  con- 
clusi;  »f«  Ego  Olfstanus  consolidaui^  etc. 

"Likewise  for  Scotland,  in  an  old  booke  of 
Duresme  in  the  Charter,  whereby  Edgare,  sonne 


18  ESSAY  ON  THE  OBIGIN  AND 

of  King  Malcolme,  gave  lands  neare  Coldingham  to 
that  church,  in  the  year  1097,  the  Scottish  noble- 
men, witnesses  thereunto,  had  no  other  surnames 
but  the  Christian  names  of  their  fathers,  for  thus 
they  signed — S.  ^  Qulfi  filii  Meniani.  S.  >J<  Guluerti 
Jilii  Doncani,  etc." 

On  the  authority  of  Dr.  Keating*  and  his  cotem- 
porary  Gratianus  Lucius,  we  learn  that  surnames 
first  became  hereditary  in  Ireland,  in  the  reign  of 
Brian  Boru,  who  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Clon- 
tarf,  in  the  year  1014,  in  which  battle  the  Danes 
were  defeated.  Previous  to  this  time,  individuals 
were  identified  by  Tribe  names,  after  the  Patriarchal 
manner.  These  tribe  names  were  formed  from 
those  of  the  progenitors  by  prefixing  the  following 
words,  signifying  race,  progeny,  descendants,  etc.: 
Corca^  Ginealj  Claris  Muintir,  -Siol,  Sliocht^  Dal, 
Tealachj  Ua,  Ui,  or  0,  which  signifies  grandson  or 
descendant. 

It  is  asserted  on  the  authority  of  the  ancient  Irish 
Manuscripts,  that  King  Brian  ordained  that  a  cer- 
tain surname  should  be  imposed  on  every  tribe  or 
clan,  in  order  that  it  might  be  more  easily  known 
from  what  stock  each  family  was  descended ;  and 

*  See  Irish  Penny  Joimial,  1841,  p.  365,  "Origin  and  Meanings  of 
Irish  Family  names,  by  John  O'Donovan." 


SIGNIFICATION  OF  NAMES.  1^ 

that  these  names  stioTild  become  hereditary  and 
fixed  forever.  In  the  formation  of  these  names, 
care  was  taken  that  they  should  not  be  arbitrarily 
assumed.  The  several  families  were  required  to 
adopt  the  names  of  their  fathers  or  grandfathers, 
and  those  ancestors  were  generally  selected  who 
were  celebrated  for  their  virtues  or  renowned  for 
their  valor. 

Many  of  the  surnames  now  common  in  Ireland 
were  derived  from  the  chiefs  of  the  several  clans 
who  fought  against  the  Danes  at  the  battle  of 
Clontarf,  under  King  Brian,  and  others  were 
assumed  from  ancestors  who  flourished  subsequently 
to  the  reign  of  that  rnonarch.  Soon  after  the 
invasion  of  Ireland  by  Henry  the  Second,  in  the 
year  1172,  the  Anglo-Norman  and  Welsh  families 
who  had  obtained  large  grants  of  land  in  that  king- 
dom, in  reward  for  their  military  services  in  subdu- 
ing the  inhabitants,  from  intermarriages  and  other 
causes,  began  by  degrees  to  adopt  the  language  and 
manners  of  the  people,  and  in  process  of  time  be- 
came ^^Hihernis  ipsis  Hihefrniores^''  more  Irish  than 
the  Irish  themselves.  They  not  only  spoke  the 
Irish  language,  but  conformed  to  the  Irish  custom^ 
of  surnames,  by  placing  ^Mac,"  which  signifies 
"50%"  before  the  Christian  name  of  their  father. 
This  was  particularly  the  case  in  regard  to  those 


20  ESSAY  ON  THE  ORIGIN  AND 

English  and  Welsh  families  who  settled  in  the 
province  of  Connaught.  Thus,  the  descendants 
of  Wniiam  De  Burgos  were  called  MacWilliarQ, 
that  is,  the  son  of  William,  and  the  De  Exeters 
assumed  the  name  of  MacJordan,  from  Jordan  De 
Exeter,  who  derived  his  name  from  Exeter,  a  town 
in  Devonshire,  England. 

In  the  year  1465,  in  the  reign  of  Edward  the 
Fourth,  it  was  ehactedr'bj  statute^^lEaEiverj  Irish- 
man dwelling  within  the  English .  pale,  then  com- 
prising the  counties  of  Dublin,  Meath,  Lowth,  and 
Kildare,  in  Ireland,  should  take  an  English  sur- 
name. 

"  At  the  request  of  the  Commons,  it  is  ordeyned 
and  established  by  authority  of  said  Parliament, 
that  every  Irishman  that  dwells  betwixt  or  among 
Englishmen,  in  the  county  Dublin,  Myeth,  Uri- 
ell,  and  Kildare,  shall  goe  like  to  one  English- 
man in  apparel;  and  shaveing  off  his  beard  above 
the  mouth,  and  shall  be  within  one  year  sworn 
the  liege  man  of  the  king,  in  the  hands  of  the 
lieutenant,  or  deputy,  or  such  as  he  will  assigne  to 
receive  this  oath  for  the  multitude  that  is  to  be 
swome,  and  shall^  take  to  him  an  English  surname-, 
of  one— towiie,_as  Sutton,  Chester,  Trym,  Skyrne, 
Corke,  Kjnsale ;  or  colour,  as  White,  Black,  Brown  ; 
or  art  or  science,  as  Smith,  or  Carpenter;  or  office, 


SIGNIFICATION  OF  NAMES.  21 

as  Cook,  Butler;  and  that  lie  and  his  issue  shall  use 
this  name  under  payne  of  forfejting  of  his  goods 
yearly  till  the  premises  be  done,  to  be  levied  two 
times  by  the  yeare  to  the  king's  warres,  according 
to  the  discretion  of  the  lieutenant  of  the  king  or  his 
deputy."— 5  Edward  lY.,  cap.  3. 

In  obedience  to  this  law,  Harris,  in  his  additions 
to  Ware,  remarks  that  the  Shanachs  took  the  name 
of  Fox,  the  McGabhans  or  McGowans^  that  of 
Smithy  and  the  Geals  the  name  of  White.  In  con- 
sequence of  this  statute  of  Edward,  many  Irish 
families  were  induced  to  translate  or  change  their 
names  into  English. 

The  ancient  prefixes  of  Mac  and  0  are  still  retained 
in  Irish  names,  the  former  denoting  soriy  and  the  lat- 
ter grandson^  or  descendant.  To  distinguish  the 
individual  the  father's  name  was  used,  and  some- 
times that  of  the  grandfather  after  the  manner  of 
the  Scripture.  Thus,  should  Donnel  h^YQ  o,  son,  be 
would  be  called  1/acDonnel,  that  is,  the  son  of  Bmi- 
nel,  and  his  grandson  would  be  termed  O'Donnel ; 
ClSTeal;  the  grandson  of  Neal,  or  the  descendant  of 
Neal ;  ifacNeal,  the  son  of  Neal. 

The  Welsh,  in  like  manner,  prefixed  Ap,  mob,  ah, 
or  vap  to  the  given  or  first  name  to  denote  son,  as 
David  Ap  Howell,  David  the  son  of  Howell ;  Evan 
Ap  Ehys,  Evan  the  son  of  Eees ;  Richard  Ap  Evan, 


22  ESSAY   ON  THE  ORIGIN  AND 

Richard  the  son  of  Evan ;  John  Ap  Hugh,  John 
the  son  of  Hugh.  These  names  are  now  abreviated 
into  Powell,  Price,  Bevan,  and  Pugh. 

The  name  of  the  ancestor  was  appended  in  this 
manner  for  half-a-dozen  generations  back,  and  it  is 
no  uncommon  occurrence  to  find  in  their  old  re- 
cords a  name  like  this : 

"  Evan  -  ap  -  Griffith-ap- Jones-ap-William-ap  Owen- 
ap-Jenkin-ap-Morgan-ap-Rheese." 

Lower  tells  of  a  church  at  Llangollen,  Wales, 
dedicated  to  "  St.  Collen-ap-Grwynnawg-ap-Clyn- 
dawg-ap-Cowrda-ap-Caradoc  -  Freichfras  -  ap  -  Llyn- 
Merim-ap-Einion-Yrth-ap-Cunedda-Wledig — a  name 
that  casts  that  of  the  T>\ii(^mQiXi  '  Inhvervanhodscbr' 
spankhinhadrachde'm)  into  the  shade." 

Surnames  were  not  adopted  in  Wales  until  long 
after  they  were  in  England  and  Scotland.  The  old 
manner  was  retained  as  far  down  as  the  time  of 
Henry  the  Eighth.  It  is  related  in  Camden,  "  That 
in  late  y cares,  in  the  time  of  King  Henry  the 
Eight,  an  ancient  worshipful  gentleman  of  Wales 
beeing  called  at  the  pannel  of  Jurie  by  the  name  of 
^Thomas  ap-  William-ap-ThoTnas^ap  Richard-ap-Hoel- 
ap-Euen-  Yaghan!  was  advised  by  the  judge  to  leave 
that  old  manner;  whereupon  he  after  called  himself 
Moston,  according  to  the  name  of  his  principall 
house,  and  left  that  surname  to  his  posteritie." 


SIGNIFICATION  OF  NAMES.  2S 

About  this  time,  tlie  heads  of  the  Welsh  families 
either  took  the  names  of  their  immediate  ancestors  as 
surnames,  or  adopted  names  from  their  estates, 
after  the  English  manner. 

The  old  Normans  prefixed  Fitz^  a  son,  the  same 
as  Fils  in  French,  and  Filius  in  Latin,  to  the  name 
of  the  father  as  a  patronymic,  as  Fitz  William,  the 
son  of  William,  the  same  as  Williamson. 

Lx-Ireland,  after  the^in-vasioa  of  Strongbow,  in 
the  time  of  Henry  the  Second,  names  commencing 
with  Fitz  frequently  occur,  as  Fitzhugh,  Fitzgerald, 
Fitzgibbon,  Fitzsimmons,  Fitzpatrick,  which  are  of 
Anglo-Norman  origin.  Camden  informs  ns  that  in 
the  reign  of  Henry  the  First,  the  daughter  and  heir 
of  Fitzhamon,  an  English  nobleman  of  wealth, 
refused  the  hand  of  Kobert,  the  natural  son  of  the 
king,  saying, 

,  "  It  were  to  me  a  gi-eat  shame 

To  have  a  lord  withouten  his  twa  name." 

Whereupon,  the  king  gave  him  the  name  of  Fitz 
Eoy,  "  the  son  of  the  king."  Children  born  out  of 
lawful  wedlock  not  unfrequently  have  had  Fitz 
prefixed  to  the  name  of  their  mother  or  reputed 
father.  The  children  of  his  Eoyal  Highness,  Wil- 
liam, Duke  of  Clarence,  and  Mrs.  Jordan,  took  the 
surname  of  Fitzclarence. 


24  ESSAY  ON  THE  ORIGIN  AND 

_._3VlTZ,  a  termmatioQ  cominQg  ia_Bussi^  names, 
denotes  son^  and  is  soraewliat  analogous  to  the  Nor- 
man Fitz^  as  Peter  Paulowitz,  Peter  the  son  of  Paul. 

Sky  is  used  in  a  similar  manner  bj  the_PoleSj_^ 
James  Petrowsky,  James  the  son  of  Peter.., ^ 

Ing,  Teutonic,  denoting  progeny — which.  "Wachter 
derives  from  the  British  engi^  to  produce,  bring 
forth — was  affixed  by  the  Anglo-Saxons  to  the 
father's  name  as  a  surname  for  the  son,  as  Cuthing 
the  son  of  Cuth,  JElfreding  the  son  of  Alfred,  T©i^«^-~^ 
Jm£  the  Fair  offspring.  Browning  th6  Dark  off- 
spring. Qin^  in  Gaelic,  signifies  to  beget;  An^ 
Gaelic,  is  a  termination  of  nouns  implying  the 
diminutive  of  that  to  which  it  is  annexed,  and  aw, 
in  the  Welsh,  as  an  affix:,  conveys  also  the  idea  of 
littleness.  The  termination  son  was  also  added  to 
the  father's  name,  and  instead  of  saying  John 
the  son  of  William,  the  name  was  written  John 
Williamson;  Peter  Johnson,  in  place  of  Peter  the 
son  of  John.  While  the  English  affixed  son  to  the 
baptismal  name  of  the  father,  the  Welsh  merely 
appended  "5,"  as  John  ^atthews, -that  is,  John  the 
son  of  Mathew;  David  Jones  (Johns),  David  the 
son  of  John;  John  Hughs,  John  the  son  of 
Hugh. 

Kin,  kind,  ling,  let,  et,  ot,  cic,  cock,  are  diminutives. 

From  the  German  kind,  a  child,  is  formed  the 


SIGNIFICATION  OF  NAMES.  25 

diminutive  termination  kin,  as  Watkin  the  son  of 
Wat  or  Walter ;  Wilkin  the  son  of  Will  or  Wil- 
liam. Kin  or  hind  has  the  same  signification  as  the 
Greek  yevog  and  the  Latin  genu^^  race,  offspring, 
children. 

Ling  at  the  end  of  a  word  conveys  the  idea  of 
something  young  or  little,  as  darling  or  dearling^ 
firstling^  gosling^  and  denotes  also  the  situation, 
state,  or  condition  of  the  subject  to  which  it  is 
applied,  as  hireling,  worldling. 

Let,  Anglo-Saxon  lyt^  is  sometimes  used  for 
littUj  as  hamlet,  ringlet,  streamlet,  Bartlet;  i.  e., 
little  Bart  or  Bartholomew.  The  terminations  et 
and  ot  are  used  in  the  same  sense,  as  WilUt,  Willmot, 
the  son  of  William  or  little  William. 

The  termination  cic  or  cock  is  also  a  diminutive, 
and  signifies  little  or  son,  as  Hiccic,  Hiccock,  the  son 
of  JHig  or  Hugh;  Wilcock,  the  son  of  William; 
Babcock,  the  son  of  Bob  or  Kobert. 

ioCAL  NAMES  form  the  largest  class  of  our  sur- 
names. First  among  these  are  those  which  are 
national,  expressing  the  country  whence  the  person 
first  bearing  the  name  came;  as JEnglish,  SooTT, 
Ieish,  French. 

German  or  Gorman,  Brett  and  Britain. 

Fleming,  from  Flanders. 
2 


26,  ESSAY  ON  THE  OEIGIN  AND 

BuKGOYNE,  from  Burgundy. 

CoKNiSH  and  Cobnwallis,  from  Cornwall. 

GEEMAmE,  Alman  and  D'Almaine  (D'Alle- 
magne),  from  Germany. 

Champagne  and  Chamfneys,  from  Champagne, 
France. 

Gascoyne  and  Gaskin,  from  Gascony. 

Eomayne.  from  Kome. 

Westphal,  from  Westphalia. 

Hanway,  from  Hainault. 

Janeway,  a  Genoese — etc.^  etc. 

These  names  had  commonly  Le  (the)  prefixed  to 
them  in  old  records. 

The  practice  of  taking  names  fr^m  patrimonial 
estates,  or  from  the  place  of  residence  or  birth,  was 
prevalent  in  Normandy  and  the  contiguous  parts  of 
France  in  the  ]atter  part  of  the  tenth  century,  and 
was  generally  adopted  in  England  and  Scotland  after 
the  Conquest, 

Names  were  taken  from  almost  every  county^ 
city,  town,  parish,  village,  and  hamlet,  and  from 
manors,  farms,  and  single  houses,  such  as  Clieshire^ 
Kentj  jRosSj.  Hastings^  Ounningham,  Huntingdon^ 
Prest/Mj  Hully  Compton,  Qoring^  etc.,  so  that  local 
names  of  this  class  number  many  thousands. 

Where  the  name  was  taken  from  the  patrimonial 
estate,  it  was  assumed  by  tke  individual  himself; 


SIGNIFICATION  OF  IsfAMES.  2,7 

when  from  the  place  of  residence  or  birth,  it  was 
probably  bestowed  by  others.  A  person  who  had 
removed  from  his  native  place  and  settled  in  an- 
other, received  from  the  inhabitants  of  the  town 
or  village  in  which  he  took  np  his  abode  the  name 
of  his  native  place  as  a  surname,  which  descended 
to  his  children. 

These  names  were  first  given  with  the  prefix  ''o^" 
shortened  frequently  to  "0"  or  '*a,"  signifying /rom 
(or  it  may  be  sometimes  an  abreviation  of  "a^"),  as 
John  O Huntingdon^  Adam  a  Kirby.  These  prefixes 
were  after  a  time  dropped,  and  Adam  d  Kirby 
became  Adam  Kirby ^  and  John  OKent^  John  Kent. 

Besides  these,  we  have  a  great  number  of  local 
surnames  which  are  general  and  descriptive  of  the 
nature  or  situation  of  the  residence  of  the  persons 
upon  whom  they  were  bestowed,  as  Hil\  Wood, 
Dale,  Parke,  etc.  The  prefix  ^^  or  Atte  was  gen- 
erally used  before  these  names,  as^John  At  Hill, 
John  at  the  hill,  James  At  Well,  Will  At- Gate,  Tom 
At-  Wood,  now  Atwell,  Adgate,  and  Atwood.  Atte 
was  varied  to  Aiten  when  the  following  name  began 
with  a  vowel,  as  Peter  Atten  Ash,  now  Nash^ 
Richard  Atten  Oak,  now  Noakes  or  Nohes, 

Sometimes  "  d"  was  used  instead  of  at,  as  Thomas 
d  Bechet,  Jack  cl  Deane.  By  and  under  were  used  as 
prefixes,  as  James  By-field,  Tom  Under-hill^^ 


28  ESSAY  ON  THE  ORIGIN  AND 

In  this  way  men  took  their  names  from  rivers 
and  trees,  from  residing  at  or  near  them,  as  Beck^ 
GtUj  Uderiy  Trent,  Qrant^  and  Shannon;  Beach, 
Vine  J  Ashe,  Bush,  and  Thorn. 

Local  names  prefixed  with  De  (from)  and  termi- 
nating in  ville,  originated  in  Normandy,  and  were 
introduced  into  England  at  the  time  of  the  Con- 
quest. These  names  were  taken  from  the  districts 
towns,  or  hamlets  of  which  they  were  possessed,  or 
in  which  they  resided  previously  to  their  following 
the  fortunes  of  "William  the  Conqueror,  such  as 
De  MandeviUe,  Be  Neville,  Be  Montague,  Be  Warren, 
Be  Beaumont,  etc.  The  prefix  Be  was  generally 
dropped  about  the  reign  of  Henry  the  Sixth.  All 
these  names  introduced  into  England  at  the  time  of 
the  Conquest,  from  Normandy  and  the  contiguous 
parts  of  France  may  easily  be  distinguished  by  the 
prefixes  Be,  Bu,  Bes,  Be  La,  St.,  and  the  suffixes, 
Beau,  Mont,  Font,  Fant,  Ers,  Age,  Ard,  Aux,  Bois, 
Eux,  Ft,  Yal,  Court,  Vaux,  Lay,  Fort,  Ot,  Champ, 
and  Ville,  the  component  parts  of  names  of  places 
in  Normandy,  the  signification  of  most  of  which  we 
give  in  the  derivation  of  those  names  into  the  com- 
position of  which  they  enter. 

The  greater  part  of  English  local  surnames  are 
composed  of  the  following  words  or  terminations : 
Ford,  Ham,  Ley,  Ey,  Ney,  Ton,    Tun,  Ing,  Hurst, 


SIGNIFICATION   OF  NAMES.  29 

Wich,  Stow,  Stedy  Caster,  Combe,  Coi^,  Thorpe^ 
Worth,  Burg,  Beck,  and  Gtill.  There  is  an  ancient 
proverb — 

«  fin  iFortr,  fn  ?i^ant,  fn  2le2  antr  ^Ton, 
STlje  most  of  3Snfllfsf)  surnames  run.** 

To  wliicli  Lower  has  added — 

"finfl,  ?^urst,  anu  JK^ooTj,  ffiSFfcft,  StetJ  antr  iFfellf, 
ifull  mans  3BnjjlfsI)  surnames  ^feltJ, 

*  ffl®fti)  3r$or|)e  anti  SSourne,  ©ote,  ©aster,  ©Ite, 
Comfte,  JSurj,  30on,  anti  Stotoe,  anti  Stofte, 
B®ttt)  3E2  antr  33ort,  <St)ato,  ffl^ortfj  antr  ffl^atre, 
Jj^fll,  €fate,  ®®ell,  Stone,  are  mang  matie ; 
^\X%  l^arai),  antj  i^outf),  anti  3EBoiDn,  ann  SanTr, 
^nti  aSecft,  anH  Sea,  toft|)  numbers  stanti." 

FoED,  Welsh,  Fford,  signifies  a  way,  a  road. 
Ford,  Saxon,  from  the  verb  Faran,  to  go  or  pass, 
denotes  a  shallow  place  in  a  river,  where  it  may  be 
passed  on  foot,  whence  Bradford,  Crawford,  Stan- 
ford, etc. 

Ham,  Saxon,  a  house,  a  home,  a  dwelling-place ; 
German,  heim,  a  home.  It  is  used  in  the  names 
of  places,  as  Waltham,  Durham,  Buckingharn^  etc. 
Ham,  in  some  localities  in  England,  indicates  a  rich, 
level  pasture ;  a  plot  of  land  near  water ;  a  triangu- 
lar field. 

Ley,  Legh,  and  Leigh,  a  pastuxe^eld,,  com- 


80  ESSAY  ON  THE  ORIGIN  AND 

mons ;  uncultivated  land.  Lle^  Welsh,  a  place, 
Stanley,  Burkeley,  Kaleigh,  etc. 

Ey,  Ney,  Ea  are  applied  to  places  contignous  to 
water ;  a  wet  or  watery  place,  as  Chertsey,  Lindsey, 
Ilsley. 

Ton  and  Tune,  Saxon,  and  TuiN,  Dutch,  signify 
an  inclosure;  DuN  and  DiN,  Gaelic  and  Welsh,  a 
hill,  a  fortified  place ;  now  a  town,  dun^  tune,  town. 
If  the  residence  of  the  Briton  was  on  a  plain,  it  was 
called  Llan,  from  lagen  or  hgan,  an  inclosed  plain, 
or  a  low-lying  place;  if  on  an  eminence,  it  was 
called  Dun.  Dun,  in  the  Gaelic,  signifies  a  heap ;  a 
hill,  mount ;  a  fortified  house  or  hill,  fortress,  castle, 
or  tower. 

The  surnames  terminating  in  den,  din,  ton  and 
tun,  are  numerous,  as  Houghton,  Leighton,  Chitten- 
din,  Huntington. 

Ing  is  a  meadow;  low  flat  lands  near  a  river, 
lake,  or  wash  of  the  sea,  as  Lansing,  Washington. 

JSuRST,_aij70od^  grove ;  a  word  found  in  many 
names  of  places,  as  Bathurst,  Hayhurst,  Crowhurst, 
Reddenhurst. 

Wick,  in  old  Saxon,  is  a  village,  castle,  or  fort ; 
the  same  as  vicus  in  Latin ;  a  bay,  a  port  or  harbor, 
whence  Wickware,  WickliflF,  Warwick,  Sedgewick, 

Stow,  a  fixed  place  or  mansion,  whence  Barstow, 
Bristow,  Raystow. 


SIGNIFICATIOI^  OF  NAMES.  31 

^TEOjn  the  Danish,  signifies  a  place  inclosed,  an 
inclosure ;  a  fixed  residence ;  whence  JSalsted,  Olna^ 
^sted,  Husted,  Stedham,  Grinsted. 

Ceastee,  Saxon,  a  camp,  a  city;  Latin,  castrum^ 
whence  Rochester,  Winchester,  Chichester,  Exeter. 

Combe,  Anglo-Saxon,  a  valley;  "Welsh,  cwrriY  a 
vale,  from  which  we  have  Balcombe,  Bascombe, 
Slocum. 

Cot,  Cete,  Saxon,  a  cottage;  Cote,  French,  the 
sea-coast l^-aJiill^Jiilloc^  down ;  the  side.  Several 
names  are  composed  of  these  words,  as  Cotesworth, 
Lippencot,  Westcot. 

Thorpe,  Anglo-Saxon,  a  village.  Dutch,  Dorp, 
from  this  comes  Northrop,  Northrup  or  Northorp, 
Winthorp  or  Winthrop. 

Worth,  a  possession,  farm;  court,  place;  a  fort, 
an  island.  Such  names  end  in  worth,  as  Bosworth, 
Farnsworth,  Wordsworth,  Woodworth. 

Burg,  Bury,  a  hill;  Dutch,  Berg,  a  mountain,  a 
hill;  now,  a  court,  a  castle,  a  town.  From  these 
words  we  have  the  names  Kingsbury,  Loundsbury, 
Waterbury,  Salisbury,  Eosenburg  or  Rosenbury. 

Tre,  Tree,  Welsh,  a  town,  Coventry,  the  town 
of  the  Convent ;  Trelawny,  Tremayne. 

The  Britons  of  Cornwall  derived  many  of  their 
surnames  from  lt)cal  objects,  while  most  of  the 
Welsh    names  are   patronymics.      The    following 


82  ESSAY  ON  THE  ORIGIN  AND 

couplet  expresses  tlie  usual  character  of  Comisli 
names : 

"  By  j?Ve,  Bos,  Pol,  Lam,,  Goer,  and  Pen, 
You  know  the  most  of  Gomish  men." 

These  words  signify  town,  heath,  pool,  church, 
castle,  and  promontory. 

By  is  a  termination  of  Danish  names  of  places, 
and  denotes  a  dwelling,  a  village,  or  town,  as 
Willoughby,  Busby,  Ormsby,  Selby,  Goadby. 

Over.  The  Anglo:jSaxQn_.,2tj[ercorresponds  to 
the  German  ufer^  and  signifies  a  shore  or  bank,  as 
Westover. 

Beck,  a  brook,  Anglo-Saxon,  Becc^  from  which  we 
have  Beckford,  Beckwith,  Beckley,  etc. 

A  majority  of  Dutch  surnames  are  local,  derived 
from  places  in  Holland.  Van,  Dutch,  Yon,  German, 
signify  of  or  from^  and  denote  locality,  as  Van 
Antwerp^  belonging  to  or  coming  from  the  city  of 
Antwerp ;  Van  Buren^  from  the  town  of  Buren  in 
Holland.  Nearly  all  the  Dutch  local  names  have 
this  prefix. 

Surnames  derived  from  Christian  or  baptis- 
mal NAMES  are  probably  next  in  number  to  the  local 
surnames.  For  a  long  time,  before  and  even  after 
the  introduction  of  stationary  surnames,  the  name 
of  the  father  was  used  by  the  child  as  a  surname. 


SIGNIFICATION  OF  NAMES.  33 

Camden  says  we  have  many  surnames  formed  of 
sucIl  forenames  as  are  now  obselete,  and  only  occnr 
in  Doomsday  Book  and  other  ancient  records,  of 
wliicli  lie  gives  a  list. 

I  have  already  shown  how  the  Normans  prefixed 
Fitz  to  their  father's  name  for  a  surname,  to  denote 
son ;  the  Welsh  4p,  and  the  ancient  Irish,  Mac, 

The  surnames  formed  from  Christian  or  baptismal 
names  are  very  numerous ;  as  many  as  ten  or  fif- 
teen are  frequently  formed  from  a  single  Christian 
name.  Lower  forms  no  less  than  twenty -nine  from 
the  name  of  William. 

First  we  have  the  names  terminating  in  son, 
which  was  added  to  the  name  of  the  father,  as 
Williamson,  John^i^,..Thqmj)son,.-Wdls(m,.,£tG, 

The  Welsh  merely  appended  "5"  instead  ofjon, 
as  Edwards,  Davis,  Jones  (Johns),  Hughs. 

Then  we  have  those  formed  from  nicknames, 
nursenames,  and  abbreviated  names,  as  Watson,  the 
son  of  Wat  or  Walter ;  Watts,  the  same ;  Simpson, 
Simms ;  Dohson,  the  son  of  Dob  or  Robert ;  Dohhs, 
Hohson,  Hohhs,  etc.,  etc. 

A  great  many  are  formed  of  these  abreviated  or 

nursenames,  with  the   addition  of  the  diminutive 

terminations  ette,  kin,  and  cock  or  cox,  all  of  which 

signify  "  little"  or  "  child."     From  the  termination 

2* 


64  ESSAY  ON  THE  OEIGIN  AND 

ette  we  have  sucli  names  as  WiUett^  little  Will^jor 
the  son  of  Will ;  Hallett^  little  Hal  or  Henry. 

From  hin  or  hins  we  liave  Wilkins,  Tompkins^ 
JSimphins,  Atkins  J  Hawkins,  Higgins^  Dohhin,  and 
Oilkin.  From  cock  or  cox,  Wilcox,  Simcox,  Bahcock^ 
the  son  of  Bab  or  Bartholomew ;  Ahock,  the  son  of 
Hal  or  Henry,  and  Hickcox,  the  son  of  Hig  or  Hugh. 

Names  of  Trade,  Occupations,  and  Pursuits, 
are  next  in  number,  as  SmithjCarpenter,  Joiner, 
Taylor,  Barker,  Barber,  Baker,  Brewer.  Sherman  {d, 
shearman,  one  who  used  to  shear  cloth),  Naylor 
(nail-maker),  Ohapman,  Mercer,  Jenner  (Joiner), 
Tucker  (a  fuller).  Monger  (a  merchant),  etc.,  etc. 

These  names  originally  had  the  Norman  prefix 
"Xe"  (the),  as  Le  Spicer,  Le  Dispenser ^  Le  Tailleur. 

Official  names,  including  civil  and  ecclesiastical 
dignities,  viz..  King,  Prince,  Duke,  Lord,  Earl, 
Knight,  Pope,  Bishop,  Priest,  Monk,  Marshall, 
Bailey,  Chamberlain,  etc.,  etc. 

Many  of  these  titles,  as  King,  Prince,  etc.,  were 
imposed  on  individuals  from  mere  caprice,  as  few 
of  these  kings  or  dukes  ever  held  the  distinguished 
rank  their  names  indicate. 

It  is  said  that  nearly  nine  hundred  Kings  are 
born  annuallv  in  England  and  Wales. 


SIGNIFICATION  OF  NAMES.  35 

We  find  the  followiog  in  Lower's  Essay,  as  taken 
from  tlie  "  History  of  Huntingdon." 

"Tkue  Copy  of  a  jury  taken  before  Judge 
Doddridge,  at  tke  assizes  holden  at  Huntingdon, 
A.D.  1619.  (It  is  necessary  to  remark,  'that  the 
judge  had,  at  the  preceding  circuit,  censured  the 
-sheriff  for  empanneling  men  not  qualified  by  rank 
for  serving  on  the  Grand  Jury,  and  the  sheriff"  being 
a  humorist,  resolved  to  fit  the  judge  with  sounds  at 
least.')  On  calling  over  the  following  names,  and 
pausing  emphatically  at  the  end  of  the  Christian, 
instead  of  the  surname,  his  lordship  began  to  think 
he  had,  indeed,  a  jury  of  quality : 

Maximilian  King  of  Toseland, 
Henry  Prince  of  Godmanchester, 
George  Duke  of  Somersham, 
William  Marquis  of  Stukeley, 
Edmund  Earl  of  Hartford, 
Eichard  Baron  of  Bythorn, 
Stephen  Pope  of  ISTewton, 
Stephen  Cardinal  of  Kimbolton, 
Humphrey  Bishop  of  Buckden, 
Eobert  Lord  of  Waresley, 
Eobert  Knight  of  Winwick, 
William  Abbott  of  Stukeley, 
Eobert  Baron  of  St.  Neots, 
William  Dean  of  Old  Weston, 


86  ESSAY  ON  THE  ORIGIN  AND 

John  Archdeacon  of  Paxton, 
Peter  Esquire  of  Easton, 
Edward  Fryer  of  Ellington, 
Henry  Monk  of  Stnkeley, 
George  Gentleman  of  Spaldwick, 
George  Priest  of  Graffham, 
Richard  Deacon  of  Catworth. 

"  The  judge,  it  is  said,  was  highly  pleased  with 
this  practical  joke,  and  commended  the  sheriff  for 
his  ingenuity.  The  descendants  of  soine  of  these 
illustrious  jurors  still  reside  in  the  county,  and  bear 
the  same  names ;  in  particular,  a  Maximilian  King, 
we  are  informed,  still  presides  over  Toseland." 

Personal  characteristics  have  given  origin  to 
another  class  of  surnames,  descriptive  of  mental  or 
bodily  peculiarities.  Among  these  are  many  names 
of  color  and  complexion,  as  Black,  Brown,  Blond, 
White,  Gray,  Grissel  (grayish),  Rous  (red),  Dunn 
(brown) ;  and  from  the  color  of  the  hair,  White- 
head, Whitlock,  Fairfax  (fair-hair),  Brunei,  Roth 
(red),  Swartz  (black),  Fairchild,  Black,  Black- 
man,  etc. 

Those  which  indicate  the  mental  or  moral  qual- 
ities are  such  as  Good,  Goodman,  Goodfellow, 
Giddy,  Wise,  Wiley,  Meek,  Merry,  Moody,  Bliss, 
Joy,  Gay,  Sage, 


SIGNIFICATION  OF  NAMES.  37 

Those  derived  from  bodily  peculiarity  and  from 
feats  of  personal  strength  or  courage,  Strong, 
Mickle,  Little,  Long,  Short,  Strongfellow  or  Streng- 
fellow.  Hardy,  Proudfit,  Lightbody,  Ironside,  Arm- 
strong, Crookshanks,  Turnbull,  and  Camoys. 

"  Round  was  his  face,  and  camvse  was  his  nose." 

OHArOER. 

"We  find  such  names  bestowed  among  the  Greeks 
and  Eomans.  The  Greeks  had  their  Sophocles 
(wise),  Agathios  (good),  and  Strabo  (squint-eyed), 
and  Paulus  (little).  The  Eomans,  their  Pius,  Pru- 
dentins,  Longus;  their  Naso  (bottle-nose),  Calvus 
(bald-pate),  Flaccus  (loU-eared),  Yarns  (bow-legged), 
Ancus  (crooked  arm),  Crispus  (curly-headed),  etc. 
As  I  have  before  remarked,  the  Britons,  Gaels,  and 
Celts  bestowed  many  names  descriptive  of  personal 
peculiarities,  and  mental  and  bodily  qualities,  as 
Cadrod  Hardd^  Cadrod  the  beautiful ;  Con  Bachach^ 
Con  the  lame;  Shane  Buidhe  (Boyd),  John  with  the 
yellow  hair;  Seumas  Reagh^  James  the  swarthy; 
Vaicghanj  little ;   Gough,  red ;   Owynne,  white,  etc. 

Some  surnames  are  derived  from  animals,  such 
especially  as  were  noted  for  fierceness  or  courage,  as 
the  bear,  the  wolf,  the  lion,  whence  the  names 
Byron,  or  bear;  Wolf,  French  Loup^,  German  Ouelph, 
the  surname  of  the  existing  Koyal  Family  of  Great 


38  ESSAY  ON  THE  ORIGIN  AND 

Britain;  Wild-boar  or  WilbnyLovel  or  Luvel, 
from  Lupetlus,  a  little  wolf;  Balljjock  (a  badger), 
Todd  (a  fox)j  Hare,  Hart,  Leveret,  Eoe,^_§tagg,.  etc., 
to  whicli  some  add.tbe  name  of  Bog  and  Hogdm^ 
sheltered  swine  pasture. 

A  writer  in  the  Edinbnrg  Eeview,  April,  1855, 
has  remarked  that  Eher  or  Eafer^  a  boar,  is  the  root 
of  the  following  names :  Eber,  Ever,  Ebers,  Ever- 
ard,  Evered,  Everett,  Everingham,  Everington, 
Jjverlj,  and  Everton. 

Kichard  the  Third  was  called  the  Boar  or  the 
Hog^  "  and  so  gave  occasion  to  the  rhyme  that  cost 
the  maker  his  life  : 

"  The  Cat,  the  Rat,  and  Level  the  Dog 
Rule  all  England  under  the  Hog."* 

The  names  of  fishes  have  been  taken  as  family 
names.  From  this  source  we  have  Pike,  Burt, 
Chubb,  Mullet,  Bass,  Fish,  etc. 

Birds  also  come  in  for  a  share  in  our  surnames. 
We  have  Dove,  Eaven,  Lark,  Wren,  Peacock, 
Finch,  Sparrow,  Swan,  Culver,  Gosling,  Heron, 
Wild-goose  or  WUgus,  Jay,  and  many  others. 

The  mineral  and  vegetable  kingdoms  have  con- 
tributed their  full  quota  of  names.     In  this  list  we 

*  EDiNBUBa  Review,  April,  1855. — "  The  allusion  to  the  names 
of  Ratcliff  and  Catesby  is  obvious.  Level  is  said  to  have  borne  a 
dog  as  his  arms." 


SIGNIFICATION  OF  NAMES.  ^9 

find  Garnet,  Jewel,  Gold,  Silver,  Salt,  Steel,  Iron, 
Flint,  and  Stone. 

From  flowers,  plants,  shrubs,  and  trees,  we  have 
Lilly,  Eose,  Feme,  Furze,  Heath,  Broome,  Prim- 
rose, Pease,  Peach,  Oakj  Cherry,  Beach^Ash,  Thorn, 
Alder,  Pine,  and  Burch.  I\y.^  I 

We  find  such  names  among  the  Eomans — Taurus, 
a  bull;  Yitulus,  a  calf;  Porcius,  like  a  hog;  Ca- 
prillus,  like  a  goat;  Leo,  lion;  Lupus,  a  wolf;  and 
the  names  of  Fabius,  Lentulus,  Cicero,  and  Piso, 
were  given  respectively  for  skill  in  cultivating 
beans,  lentils,  peas,  and  vetches. 

Many  names  were  taken  from  the  signs  over  the 
doors  of  inns,  or  the  shops  of  various  tradesmen, 
where  goods  were  manufactured  and  sold. 

Camden  informs  us,  "  that  he  was  told  by  them 
who  said  they  spake  of  knowledge,  that  many 
names  that  seem  unfitting  for  men,  as  of  brutish 
beasts,  etc.,  come  from  the  very  signs  of  the  houses 
where  they  inhabited.  That  some,  in  late  time, 
dwelling  at  the  sign  of  the  Dolphin,  Bull,  White- 
horse,  Kacket,  Peacocke,  etc.,  were  commonly  called 
Thomas  at  the  Dolphin^  Will  at  the  Bull^  George  at  the 
Whitehorse,  Bohin  at  the  Rackety  which  names,  as 
many  other  of  the  like  sort,  with  omitting  a/,  be- 
came afterward  hereditary  to  their  children." 


-40  ESSAY  ON  THE  OEIGIN  AND 

Li  olden  timesj  in  London,  might  be  seen  the 
sign  of  the  Boar's  Head,  the  Crosskeyes,  the  Gun, 
the  Castle,  the  Crane,  the  Cardinal's  Hat,  the 
Angell,  the  Bell,  the  Swan,  the  Bowles,  the  Bar- 
rell,  the  Crosier,  the  Griffin,  the  Coney,  the  Jugg, 
the  Kettle,  the  Potts,  the  Pitcher,  Sword,  Shears, 
Scales,  Tabor,  Tub,  etc. 

In  the  cities  and  towns,  every  kind  of  beasts, 
birds,  and  fishes,  objects  animate  and  inanimate, 
were  taken  by  tradesmen  assigns  to  distinguish 
their  shops  from  others,  and  to  excite  the  attention 
of  customers.  From  many  of  these,  names  were 
bestowed,  and  we  can  account  in  this  way  for  many 
surnames  which  would  otherwise  seem  strange  and 
absurd. 

Armorial  ensigns  and  heraldic  bearings  have 
given  surnames  to  families.  Many  of  the  old 
knights  took  their  names  from  the  figures  and 
devices  they  bore  on  their  shields. 

The  royal  line  of  Plantagenet  (Broome)  took 
their  surname  from  the  broom  plant,  Fulke,  Earl 
of  Anjou,  the  founder  of  the  hou^e,  having  worn 
a  sprig  of  broom,  as  a  symbol  of  humility,  and 
adopted  it  as  his  badge  after  his  pilgrimage  to  the 
Holy  Land. 

Names  were  borrowed  from^rmor  and  costume, 
aa  Fortescue  (strong-sEFeld),  Strongbow,  Harness, 


SIGNIFICATION  OF  NAMES.  41 

Beauliarnois,  Broadspeare,  Sjtiakespeare,  ^Shotbolt, 
Curthose,  that  is,  short  hose,  Gurtmantle,  a  name 
given  to  Henry  the  Second  from  his  wearing  shorter 
mantles  than  were  then  in  fashion;  Freemantle, 
Coates,  Capet.  "Hugh  Capet,  the  founder  of  the 
royal  line  of  France,  in  the  tenth  century,  is  said  to 
have  acquired  that  surname  from  a  freak  of  which, 
in  his  boyhood,  he  was  very  fond,  that  of  snatching 
off  the  caps  of  his  play-fellows.  De  La  Kocque, 
however,  gives  a  different  origin  for  this  name, 
deriving  it  from  *  le  bon  sens  et  esprit  qui  residoit 
^  sa  teste  I'  " 

We  have  names  taken  from  the  seasons,  the 
months,  and  the  days  of  the  week,  holidays  and 
festivals  of  the  church,  most  of  which  probably 
originated  from  the  period  of  birth,  such  as  Sum- 
mer, Spring,  Winter,  Fall,  Monday,  Friday,  JVf ay, 
March,  Morrow,  Weekes,  Day,  Christmas,  Paschal, 
Holiday,  Noel  (Christmas),  etc. 

Many  surnames  have  originated  in  soubriquets, 
epithets  of  contempt,  and  ridicule,  and  nicknames, 
imposed  for  personal  peculiarities,  habits,  and  qual- 
ities, or  from  incidents  or  accidents  which  happened 
to  the  original  bearers.  Such  names  are  very  nu- 
merous, and  can  be  accounted  for  in  no  other  way. 


42  ESSAY  ON  THE  ORIGIN  AKD 

The  J  are  such  as  Doolittle,  Hearsay,  Timeslow, 
Houseless,  Tugwell,  Steptoe,  Goelightly,  Braggy>_ 
Trollope,  that  is,  slattern ;  Parnell,  a  woman  of  bad 
character;  Lawless,  SiUiman,  Bastard  (William  the 
Conqueror  was  not  ashamed  of  the  illegitimacy  of 
his  birth,  as  he  often  signed  his  name  William  the 
Bastard)^  Crookshanks,  Longshanks,  Addlehead, 
and  Leatherhead,  Grubbins,  that  is,  the  refuse  parts 
of  a  fish  ;  G-allows,  and  Devil  I 

We  can  easily  imagine  how  some  ridiculous 
incident  or  foolish  act  or  saying  would  confer  a 
soubriquet  or  nickname  upon  a  person  by  which  he 
would  be  known  and  called  through  life,  and  which 
would  even  descend  to  his  children,  for  we  often  see 
this  in  our  day. 

The  following  anecdote  from  Lower  is  an  illus- 
tration :  "  The  parish  clerk  of  Langford,  near  Wel- 
lington, was  called  Redcock  for  many  years  before 
his  death ;  for  having  one  Sunday  slept  in  church, 
and  dreaming  that  he  was  at  a  cock-fighting,  he 
bawled  out  '■  a  shilling  upon  the  red  cock !'  And 
behold,  the  family  are  called  Bedcock  to  this  day." 

We  have  gone  through  the  principal  sources 
from  which  the  greater  part  of  our  surnames  are 
derived ;  but  many  names  yet  remain  for  the  origin 
of  which  we  are  at  a  loss  to  account. 

But  shall  we  wonder  when  we  consider   that 


SIGNIFICATION  OF  NAMES.  43 

names  have  been  taken  and  bestowed  from  every 
imaginable  incident  and  occurrence  unknown  to  us, 
and  that  many  of  them  have  been  so  corrupted  in 
process  of  time,  that  we  can  not  trace  their  originals. 
All  names  must  have  been  originally  significant. 

In  the  words  of  our  old  friend  Camden : 
^^To  drawe  to  an  end,  no  name  whatsoeuer  is  to  be 
disliked,  in  respect  either  of  originall  or  of  significa- 
tion ;  for  neither  the  good  names  doe  disgrace  the 
bad,  neither  doe  euil  names  disgrace  the  good.  If 
names  are  to  be  accounted  good  or  bad,  in  all  coun- 
tries both  good  and  bad  have  bin  of  the  same  sur- 
names, which,  as  they  participate  one  with  the  other 
in  glory,  so  sometimes  in  shame.  Therefore,  for 
ancestors,  parentage,  and  names,  as  Seneca  said,  let 
every  man  say,  Vix  ea  nostra  voco.  Time  hath 
intermingled  and  confused  all,  and  we  are  come  all 
to  this  present,  by  successive  variable  descents  from 
high  and  low ;  or  as  he  saith  more  plainly,  the  low 
are  descended  from  the  high,  and  contrariwise  the 
high  from  the  low." 


AN 


ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

OF 

FAMILY   NAMES. 


In  the  following  Dictionary,  in  giving  the  languages  from 
which  the  names  are  derived,  I  have  used  these  abbreviations: 


Nor.  Fr. 

Norman  French. 

aer. 

G-erman. 

Sax. 

Saxon. 

Teut. 

Teutonic. 

Cor.  Br. 

Cornish  British. 

Lat. 

Latin. 

Fr. 

French. 

Gt. 

Greek. 

Du. 

Dutch. 

Heb. 

Hebrew. 

A.  S. 

Anglo-Saxon. 

Dan. 

Danish. 

The  term  Gaelic  is  often  used  instead  of  what  is  commonly 
called  the  Oeltic.  The  Celts  of  Ireland  call  their  language  the 
Gaelic  or  Gaelen,  and  the  Welsh  writers  call  the  Irish  Guidhel 
or  Gael.  The  Gaelic  is  spoken  in  different  dialects,  by  the  de- 
scendants of  the  ancient  Celts  or  Gaels,  in  a  large  portion  of 
Ireland,  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  in  the  Hebrides,  and,  to 
some  extent,  in  the  Isle  of  Man. 

The  names  of  many  of  the  rivers,  headlands,  hills,  and  mount- 
ains 'm.  Britain  are  found  to  be  of  Gaelic  or  Celtic  origin. 

The  ancient  British  or  Welsh  language,  spoken  and  written 
by  the  people  of  that  name,  is  more  nearly  allied  to  the  Gaelic 
than  the  Teutonic. 

The  Cornish-British  is  a  dialect  of  the  Celto-Belgic  or  Cam- 
brian, formerly  spoken  throughout  Cornwall,  but  now  extinct. 


46  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

The  Saxon,  so  named  from  the  people  who  spoke  it,  in  its 
idiom,  resembled  the  modem  Low  Dutch. 

The  Anglo-Saxon  was  a  compomid  of  the  idioms  spoken  by 
the  Angli,  the  Saxons,  and  the  Jutes,  who,  invited  by  the  Brit- 
ish to  assist  them  against  the  Scots  and  Picts,  finally  took  pos- 
session of  the  country. 


-'  AARON.  (Hebrew.)     Signifies  a  mountaineer^  or  mount  of 
strength. 

ABBOT.  So  named  fi-om  his  office  in  the  church ;  the  chief 
ruler  of  an  abbey — derived  fi-om  the  Syriac  Ahla,  signifying 
father. 

"  ABDALLAH.  (Turkish.)    The  servant  of  God. 

ABEL.  (Hebrew.)    Yanity,  breath, 

ABENDROTH.  (Qer.)  From  alend,  evening,  and  roth,  red. 
The  name  might  have  been  given  to  a  child  bom  at  the 
close  of  day. 

ABERCROMBIE.  (Celtic  and  aaehc.)  Local,  The  name  of 
a  parish  in  Fife,  Scotland,  on  the  northern  shore  of  the  Frith 
of  Forth,  whence  the  possessor  took  his  surname ;  fi^om  Aher^ 
marshy  ground,  a  place  where  two  or  more  streams  meet ; 
and  cruime  or  crombie,  a  bend  or^crook.  Aber,  in  the  Celtic 
and  Gaelic,  and  also  in  the  Cornish  British,  signifies  the  con- 
fluence of  two  or  more  streams,  or  the  mouth  of  a  river, 
where  it  flows  into  the  sea;  hence  it  is  often  applied  to 
marshy  ground,  generally  near  the  confluence  of  two  rivers. 
It  also  signifies,  sometimes,  a  gulf  or  whirlpool. 

ABERDEEN  or  ABERDENE.  (Gaelic  and  Celtic.)  Local. 
The  name  of  a  city  in  Aberdeenshire,  whence  the  surname 
was  taken.  It  is  derived  firom  Aher,  the  mouth,  as  above, 
and  Bon,  the  name  of  a  river,  at  the  mouth  of  which  it  is 
situated. 


Of   FAMILY  NAMES.  4^ 

ABERNETHY.  (Gaelic  and  Celtic.)  Local.  From  a  town 
in  Strathern,  Scotland,  on  the  river  Tay ;  derived  from  Aher^ 
as  given  above,  and  nethy,  in  the  Gaelic,  dangerous.  Mth  or 
Nithy,  is  also  the  name  of  a  river  in  the  south  of  Scotland, 
and  the  name  may  have  been  taken  from  a  town  at  or  near 
its  mouth — Ahernithy. 

ABNE Y.  (Nor.  Fr.)  Local.  A  corruption  of  Aubigny,  a  town 
of  France,  in  the  department  of  Berry,  whence  the  surname 
is  derived;  so  D' Aubigny  is  corrupted  to  Dabney. 

'^  ABRAHAM.  (Heb.)     The  father  of  a  great  multitude. 

ACHESON.  (Cor.  Br.)    An  inscription  or  memorial 

ACKART.  (Saxon.)  From  Ac\  oak,  and  ard^  nature,  disposi- 
tion; firm-hearted,  imyielding. 

ACKERMAN".    (Saxon.)     From  Acker,  oaken,  made  of  oak, 

and  man.     The  brave,  firm,  unyielding  man. 
ACKERS.  (Saxon.)     Camden  derives  this  surname  from  the 

Latin  Ager,  a  field.     The  name,  however,  is  Saxon,  and 

signifies  the  place  of  oaks,  or  oak-man ;  ac  and  dke  being  old 

terms  for  oak. 
The  termination  er,  in  many  nouns  has  the  same  signification  as 

the  Latin  vir,  a  man — a,9  Flower,  i.  e..  Plowman;  Baker, 

Bakerman. 
Like  oak,  the  first  Acker  might  have  been  firm  and  unyielding 

in  his  disposition,  or  he  plight  have  used  or  sold  acorns. 
ACKLAND.  (Saxon.)  Local.     The  name  of  a  place  in  North 

Devonshire,  England,  whence  the  surname  is  derived;  so 

called,  because  it  was  situated  among  groves  of  oaks — ^from 

ack,  oak,  as  above,  and  land. 
ACTON.    (Saxon.)    Local.      The  oak-to^vn  or  oak-hill— the 

name  of  a  town  in  Middlesex,  England,  whence  the  name 

is  derived. 
ADAIR.   (Celtic  and  Gaelic.)  Local.     From  Ath,  a  ford,  and 

dare,  from  darach,  the  place  of  oaks,  "  The  ford  of  the  oaks.'' 

There  is  the  following  tradition  of  the  origin  of  this  surname : 


48  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

"  Thomas,  the  sixth  Earl  of  Desmond,  while  on  a  hunting  ex- 
cm-sion  was  benighted,  and  lost  his  way,  between  Tralee  and 
Newcastle,  in  the  county  of  Limerick,  where  he  was  re- 
ceived and  hospitably  entertained  by  one  William  McCor- 
mic,  whose  daughter  he  subsequently  married.  At  this 
alliance,  the  family  and  clan  took  umbrage.  Resigning  his 
title  and  estate  to  his  youngest  brother,  he  fled  to  France  in 
1418,  and  died  of  grief  at  Rouen,  two  years  afterward. 
The  Ejng  of  England  attended  his  funeral  He  had  issue, 
Maurice  and  John ;  Robert,  the  son  of  Maurice,  returning  to 
Ireland,  with  the  hope  of  regaining  the  estates  and  title  of 
Thomas,  his  ancestor,  slew  G-erald,  the  White  Knight,  in 
single  combat  at  Athdare,  the  ford  of  the  oaJcs,  whence  he 
received  the  name  of  Adaire.  He  embarked  for  Scotland, 
where  he  married  Arabella,  daughter  of  John  Campbell, 
Lord  of  Argyle." 

ADAMS.  (Hebrew.)  Man,  earthly,  or  red.  The  surname  of 
Adam  is  of  great  antiquity  in  Scotland.  Duncan  Adam, 
son  of  Alexander  Adam,  Uved  in  the  reign  of  King  Robert 
Bruce,  and  had  four  sons,  from  whom  all  the  Adams, 
Adamsons,  and  Adies  in  Scotland  are  descended. 

ADOOOK,  little  Ad  or  Adam,  cock  being  a  diminutive  termina- 
tion.    (See  Alcock,  WUcox,  etc.) 

ADDISON.  The  same  as  Adamson,  the  son  of  Adam,  Adie  or 
Addie  being,  in  the  Lowland-Scotch,  a  familiar  corruption  of 
Adam,  hence  Addie-son. 

ADEB  or  ADIE.    The  same  as  Adam.     (See  Addison.) 

ADKINS.  Little  Adam,  or  the  son  of  Adam,  from  Ad  and 
kins,  a  diminutive,  signifying  child,  from  the  Grerman  Mnd, 
so  WiUcins,  TompJcins,  etc. 

ADLAM  (Saxon.)  Local.  From  adel,  fine,  noble,  and  fiam,  a 
village  or  castle.    Adelham,  contracted  to  Adlam. 

ADLAR.  (Dutch.)    From  Adekmr^  an  eagle. 


J 


OF    FAMILY   NAMES.  40 

ADRIAN  or  HADRIAN.  (Latin.)  Local.  From  the  city 
Hadria,  which  Gesner  derives  from  the  Greek  adpb^,  great 
or  wealthy. 

AFFLECK.  (Gaelic  and  Celtic.)  Local.  Said  to  be  a  corrup- 
tion of  the  name  Auchinlech,  which  was  assumed  by  the 
proprietors  of  the  lands  and  barony  of  Auchinleck,  near 
Dundee,  in  Angusshire,  Scotland.  The  name  is  pronounced 
Affleck  by  the  natives.     (See  Auchinleck.) 

AGAN"  or  EGAN.  (Gaelic.)  From  Eigin,  force,  violence; 
hence,  strong-handed,  active.  The  name  may  be  local,  and 
named  from  Agen,  a  town  in  Guienne,  France ;  also  Agen^ 
"Welsh,  local,  a  cleft. 

AGAR.  (Gaelic  and  Celtic.)  Aighear  signifies  gladness,  joy, 
gayety.     If  from  the  Latin  age?',  it  denotes  a  field  or  land. 

AGLIONBY.  (Nor.  Fr.)  Local  From  Aglioji,  an  eaglet,  and 
hy,  a  residence  or  habitation — the  eagle's  nest. 

AGNEW.  (Nor.  Fr.)  Local.  From  the  town  of  Agneau  in 
Normandy,  whence  the  family  originated.  They  went  fi^om 
England  into  Ireland  with  Strongbow.  Agneau,  in  Nor. 
Fr.  signifies  a  lami. 

AIKEN.  (Saxon.)     Oaken ;  hard  or  firm. 

AIKMAN.  (Sax.)     From  ach,  oak,  and  man. 

AINSWORTH.  (British  and  Welsh.)  Local.  From  aim,  a 
spring,  a  river,  and  gwerth,  a  place,  possession,  or  court. 
In  the  British  and  Gaelic,  Aun,  Ain,  An,  Hain,  Aon,  and 
Avon,  signify  a  river ;  the  place  or  possession  on  the  river. 

AITKIN.     Probably  the  same  as  Atkins  (which  see). 

AITON.  (Nor,  Fr.)  Local.  From  ea  or  eau,  water,  and  ton,  a 
town;  the  town  near  the  water ;  the  same  as  Eaton. 

AKEMAN  or  ACKMAN.  (Saxon.)  The  same  as  Oakman, 
from  his  strength  or  disposition.     From  ack,  or  ake,  oak.  and 


#<|  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

AKERS.  (Saxon.)     The  same  as  Ackers  (wliich  see). 

AKIN  and  AKEN.     The  same  as  Aiken  (which  see). 

v/  ALAN  or  ALLAN".  Derived,  according  to  Julius  Scaliger, 
from  the  Sclavonic  Aland,  a  v7oLf-dog,  a  hound,  and  Chaucer 
uses  Aland  in  the  same  sense.  Bailey  derives  it  as  the 
same  from  the  British.  Camden  thinks  it  a  corruption  of 
vy  ^lianuSj  which  signifies  sun-bright.  From  the  same  we 
have  Allen,  Allin,  Alleyne.  In  the  Gaelic,  Aluinn  signifies 
exceedingly  fair,  handsome,  elegant,  lovely ;  Irish,  Ahin,  fair, 
beautiful. 

ALANSON.    The  son  of  Alan. 

v^  ALBERT.  (German.)  All  bright  or  famous ;  hebrt  or  hert^  sig- 
nifies famous,  fair,  and  clear,  bright ;  so  Sebert  and  Mhelheri 
were  sometimes  written  Se  bright  and  Mhel  bright.  AH, 
JSal,  and  .^,  in  old  English  and  Saxon  compound  names, 
have  the  same  signification  as  the  English  AU,  as  Al-dred, 
Al-win,  etc. 

ALBRECHT.  (Saxon.)     The  same  as  Albert— AU-bright. 

J  ALCOCK.  From  Hal  or  Al,  a  nickname  for  Henry;  and  cock, 
a  termination  meaning  little,  a  diminutive,  the  same  as  ot  or 
kin;  little  Hal  or  Al,  so  Wilcox,  little  Will,  and  Simcox, 
little  Sim,  etc. 

ALDEN  or  ALDAINE.  (Sax.)  Local.  From  aid,  old,  and  den 
or  dun,  a  hill  or  town ;  old-town,  or  it  may  be  high-town, 
from  aJt,  high,  Gaelic,  and  dun,  a  hiU,  castle,  or  town. 

ALDERSEY.  (Sax.)     Local.     The  isle  of  alders. 

ALDIS.  (Saxon.)     A  contraction  of  aid-house,  the  old  house. 

ALDJOY.  (Sax.)     The  same  as  the  English  aU-joy. 

.    ALDRED.  (Sax.)    All-fear— see  Albert. 

ALDRIDGE.  (Sax.)  The  same  as  Aldred,  of  which  it  ia  a 
corruption. 


OF   FAMILY    NAMES.  51 

ALEXANDER.  (Greek.)  An  aider  or  benefactor  of  men. 
From  'AAefcj,  to  aid  or  help,  and  av?)p,  a  man.  A  powerful 
auxiliary. 

ALFORD  or  ALVORD.  (Saxon.)  Local.  From  Alford,  a 
town  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  signifying  the  old  ford  or 
way  J  from  aid,  old,  and /or<:^,  a  ford,  way,  or  pass. 

ALPORT,  (Local.)  A  village  in  France,  two  leagues  from 
Paris. 

ALFRED.  (Saxon.)  All-peace,  from  all,  and  fred  or  frkde^ 
peace,  hke  Alwin  and  Albert. 

ALOAR.     (Gaelic.)     Noble. 

ALLEN.     The  same  as  Alan  (which  see). 

ALLENDORF.  Local.  A  town  in  Hesse,  Germany,  signifying 
the  old  town ;  dorf  a  town  or  village,  the  same  as  Olden- 
dorf. 

ALLGOOD.  (Saxon.)     The  same  as  the  English  All-good. 

ALSOP.  (Local.)  From  Akojp,  Co.  Derby,  England.  One 
might  imagine  it  a  corruption  of  Ale-shop,  a  name  given  to 
one  who  kept  an  ale-shop.  A  very  appropriate  name  at  the 
present  day;  for  ^^Alsop's  ale''  is  celebrated  all  the  world 
over. 

ALYERSTON  or  ALVERTOK  (Cor.  Br.)  Local.  A  high 
green  hill ;  from  a?,  high,  ver,  green,  and  don  or  ton,  a  hill. 

ALVIN  or  ALWIN.  (Saxon.)  All-winning  or  victorious,  the 
V  and  w  being  interchangeable. 

ALVORD.  (Saxon.)     The  same  as  Alford  (which  see). 

AMAKER.     (Local.)     Derived  from  Amager,  a  small  Danish 

island  to  the  east  of  Copenhagen. 

AMBLER.  (French.)  From  Amhleur,  an  officer  of  the  king's 
stal^les ;  anciently  "  le  Amblour.'' 

AMBROSE.     (Greek.)     From  dfifipootoc,  divine,  immortal. 


62  ETYMOLOGICAL  DICTIONARY 

\/  AMEEY.  (G-erman.)     Always  rich,  able,  and  powerful,  from 
the  old  German  Emerkh  or  Immer-reich,  always  rich. 

AMES.    (French.)     From  Amie,  a  friend,  beloved ;  or  if  from 
\/  the  Hebrew  Amos,  a  burden.     Some  think  it  is  a  contrac- 

tion of  Ambrose  (which  see).     Ameshury  in  England  was 
criginaEy  Amhrosebury. 

AMHERST.  (Saxon.)  Local.  From  ham,  a  town  or  village, 
and  hurst  or  herst,  a  wood,  the  town  in  the  wood,  the  "H" 
by  custom,  being  dropped  or  silent.  It  may  have  been 
y  derived  from  Hamo,  who  was  sheriff  in  the  county  of  Kent, 
in  the  time  of  William  the  Conqueror ;  a  descendant  of  his 
-  was  called  Hamo  de  Herst,  and  the  Norman  de,  and  the 
aspirate  "  h"  being  dropped — ^Amherst.  Amhurst,  the  con- 
nected grove,  or  conjoined  woods ;  "  am,^^  in  the  British,  as 
a  prefix,  has  the  sense  of  Amh,  amjohi,  circum,  i.  e.,  about, 
surrounding,  encompassing;  hence,  the  surrounding  grove, 
or  Amhurst. 

AMMADON.  (Gaelic.)  From  Am^dan,  a  numskull,  a  simple- 
ton ;  may  be  so  called  by  way  of  antiphrasis,  because  he 
was  wise ;  as  Ptolemy  received  the  surname  Philadelphus 
(from  the  Greek  ^IXo^,  a  lover  or  friend,  and  ufJeA^of ,  a  brother), 
because  he  charged  two  of  his  brothers  with  forming  designs 
against  his  life,  and  then  caused  them  to  be  destroyed. 

AMPTE.  (Dutch.)  Ampt,  an  official  situation ;  the  house  in 
which  an  officer  transacts  his  business ;  a  lordship  of  the 
Ketherlands. 

ANDARTON.  (Br.)  Local.  The  oak-hiU;  from  an,  the;  dar, 
an  oak,  and  ton,  a  Mil. 

ANDERSON.     The  son  of  Andrew  (which  see). 

:    ANDREW.       (Greek.)     From  uvdpelog,  manly,  courageous. 

ANGEYINE.  So  named  because  coming  originally  from 
Anjou,   in  France.      The  natives  of    Anjou  were  called 


OF   FAMILY    NAMES.  '68 

ANG-LE  or  ANGEL.  (Greek.)  From  ayyelog^  a  messenger ; 
also  the  name  of  a  town  in  France  where  the  family  may 
have  originated. 

ANGUS.  Local.  A  county  of  Scotland,  sometimes  called  For- 
farshire, and  took  its  name,  according  to  Halloran,  from 
Aongus  Fer,  grandson  to  Carbre  Eiada,  who,  with  others, 
invaded  the  modern  Scotland,  a.d.  498.  Angus  or  Aongus  is 
derived  from  Aon^  excellent,  noble,  and  gais,  boldness,  valor. 

ANNAK.  Local.  A  river  and  borough  of  Scotland.  From  the 
GaeHc  aon,  aon^  one,  one,  or  the  river  that  divides  the  dale 
in  two  shares.  Amhan,  Avon,  or  An-oun,  in  Gaelic,  may 
signify  the  slow  running  water ;  a  gentle  river. 

ANISTESLEY.  Local.  From  a  town  in  Nottinghamshire,  Eng- 
land, and  named,  perhaps,  from  Ando,  a  city  in  Norway, 
by  the  free-booters  or  conquerors  of  Briton.  Annansley, 
the  Ua,  lying  on  the  Annon. 

ANSELL.     Supposed  to  be  an  abbreviatioa  of  Anselm ;  also 
the  name  of  a  bird. 
■'    ANSELM.      (German.)      From  the  Teutonic  ffamstzhelm,  a 
defender  of  his  companions. 

ANSON.  The  son  of  Ann,  or  the  same  as  Hanson,  the  son  of 
Hans  or  John — the  "  H"  being  dropped  in  pronunciation. 

ANSTRUTHER.  (Gaelic.)  From  Anstruth,  an  ancient  order 
of  historians  or  bards  among  the  Celts,  next  in  rank  to  the 
Allamh,  or  chief  doctor  of  the  seven  degrees  in  all  the 
sciences.  His  reward  was  twenty  kine.  He  was  to  be  at- 
tended by  twelve  students  in  his  own  science,  to  be  enter- 
tained for  fifteen  days,  and  to  be  protected  from  all  accusa- 
tions during  that  time ;  and  he  and  his  attendants  supplied 
with  all  manner  of  necessaries.  Anstruth  is  derived  from 
Aon,  that  is,  good,  great;  sruth,  knowing,  discerning,  and 
er  put  for  fear,  a  man. 
•J  ANTHON.  A  contraction  of  Anthony,  from  the  Greek  uvdoc, 
a  flower ;  but,  by  way  of  excellency,  appropriated  to  Rose- 
mary flowers. 


54  ETTMOLOOICAL   DICTIONARY 

^  ANTHONY,  (areek.)  From  avdoc,  a  flower;  flourishing, 
beautiful,  graceful 

APPLEBY.  Local.  A  town  in  Westmoreland,  England, 
called  Ahallaba  by  the  Eomans,  from  which  the  name 
is  derived.     By  signifies  a  town, — the  apple-town. 

APPLEGrARTH.     Local.     The  orchard,  apple-garden,  or  close. 

APPLETON.     Local     The  town  abounding  in  apples. 

ARBLASTER.  A  corruption  of  Balistarius,  a  cross-bowman, 
one  who  directed  the  great  engines  of  war  used  before  the 
invention  of  cannon. 

"  In  the  kemils  (battlements)  here  and  there, 
Of  Arblastirs  great  plenty  were." 

Rom.  of  the  Rose. 

ARBUTHNOT.  Local.  First  assumed  by  the  proprietors  of 
the  land  and  barony  of  Arbuthnot  in  the  Mearns,  Scotland. 
The  name  is  said  to  have  been  anciently  written  Aberbuth- 
nothy  which  signifies  the  dwelhng  near  the  confluence  of  the 
river  with  the  sea,  from  Aber^  the  mouth  of  a  river,  both,  a 
dwelling,  and  neth,  a  stream  that  descends,  or  is  lower  than 
some  other  relative  object. 

^  ARCHIBALD.  (German.)  The  same  as  Urchenbald,  a  power- 
ful, bold,  and  speedy  learner  or  observer.  In  the  GaeHc  this 
name  is  called  Gillespie — a  favorite  name  with  the  Scotch. 

ARDAL  or  ARDGALL.  (Celtic.)  Bravery  or  prowess.  Ar- 
dol,  local,  Welsh,  from  ar,  upon,  and  dot  or  dal,  a  vale,  on 
the  vale,  or  a  place  opposite  the  dale. 

ARGYLE.  (Gaelic)  An  extensive  sliire  on  the  western  coast 
of  Scotland.  The  name  is  derived  from  the  Gaelic  JEJarra 
Ghaidheal,  that  is,  the  country  of  the  western  Gael,  or, 
according  to  Grant,  the  breeding-place  of  the  Gael. 

ARLINGTON.     Local.     From  a  viEage  in  Sussex,  England. 

ARLON.  A  local  name,  and  derived  from  Arlon^  a  town  in 
the  Netherlands,  thirteen  miles  east  from  Luxemburg. 


OP   FAMILY   NAMES.  65 

ARMISTEAD  and  ARMSTED.    (Saxon.)    The  place  of  arms. 

AEMITAG-E.  Local.  The  same  as  Hermitage,  the  cell  or 
habitation  of  a  hermit,  formerly  a  wilderness  or  solitary 
place ;  a  convent  of  hermits  or  minor  friars. 

AEMOUE.  Defensive  arms;  all  instruments  of  war.  The 
name  is  probably  contracted  from  Armorer^  a  maker  of 
armor. 

ARMSTRONG,  A  name  given  for  strength  in  battle.  His- 
torians relate  the  following  tradition  : 

This  family  was  anciently  settled  on  the  Scottish  border ;  their 
original  name  was  Fairbairn,  which  was  changed  to  Arm- 
strong on  the  following  occasion : 

An  ancient  king  of  Scotland  having  had  liis  horse  killed  under 
him  in  battle,  was  immediately  re-mounted  by  Fairbairn, 
his  armor-bearer,  on  his  own  horse.  For  this  timely  assist- 
ance he  amply  rewarded  him  with  lands  on  the  borders,  and 
to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  so  important  a  service,  as  well 
•  as  the  manner  in  which  it  was  performed  (for  Fairbairn  took 
the  king  by  the  thigh,  and  set  him  on  the  saddle),  his  royal 
master  gave  him  the  appellation  of  Armstrong.  The  chief 
seat  of  Johnnie  Armstrong  was  Gilnockie,  in  Eskdale,  a 
place  of  exquisite  beauty.  Johnnie  was  executed  by  order 
of  James  V.,  in  1529,  as  a  "  Border  Freebooter."  Andrew 
Armstrong  sold  his  patrimony  to  one  of  his  kinsmen,  and 
emigrated  to  the  north  of  Ireland  in  the  commencement  of 
the  seventeenth  century.  The  Armstrongs  were  always 
noted  for  their  courage  and  daring.  In  the  "  Lay  of  the  Last 
Minstrel,"  when  the  chief  was  about  to  assemble  his  clans, 
he  says  to  his  heralds: 

"  Ye  need  not  go  to  Liddisdale, 
For  when  they  see  the  blazing  bale 
Elliots  and  Armstrongs  never  fail." 
V  ARNOLD.     (G-erman.)      The  same  as  Ernold;  from  are  or 
ehre,  honor,  and  hold,  faithful  or  devoted  to — faithful  to  his 
honor.     How  unworthy  of  the  name  was  the  notorious 
Benedict ! 


66  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

^  ARTHUR.  (British.)  A  strong  man ;  from  Ai-  (Lat.  vir),  a 
man,  and  thor,  strong.  In  tlie  G-aelic,  Air  is  the  same  as 
J^ear,  a  man;  and  the  ancient  Scythians  called  a  man  Aior. 
Thor  was  the  Jupiter  of  the  Teutonic  races,  their  god  of 
thunder.  In  Welsh,  Arth  is  a  bear,  an  emblem  of  strength 
and  courage,  and  ur  a  noun  termination,  a  man.  Arthur,  a 
bear-man,  a~-tiero,  a  man  of  strength ;  the  name  of  a  British 
prince. 

ARTOIS.  (Local.)  From  the  province  of  Artois  in  the 
Netherlands. 

ARUNDEL.  Local.  From  a  town  in  Sussex,  England,  on 
the  river  Aran ;  a  corruption  of  Arundale — "  tlie  dale  on  the 
Arun." 

ASCALL  or  ASG-ALL.  In  the  Gaelic,  means  a  sheltered 
\y  place,  a  bosom,  a  covert.    Aisgiodal  or  Aisgdll  was  one  of 

the  Danish  commanders  at  the  battle  of  Clontarf,  near 
Dublin.  The  name  is  expressive  of  courage  and  strength. 
From  this  may  be  found  the  name  of  Hascall.  If  the  name 
is  of  British  origin,  it  would  signify  the  sedgy  moor,  from 
Hesg,  and  hal  or  hayle — ^low  grounds,  meadows. 

ASHBURTON.  Local.  From  a  town  of  the  same  name  in 
Devonshire,  England.  Barton  signifies  the  town  on  the  hill, 
and  Ashburton  the  town  on  the  hill  covered  or  surrounded 
with  ash  trees.  Ash  may  be,  in  some  cases,  a  corruption  of 
the  Gaelic  or  Celtic  uisge,  water. 

ASHBY.  (Sax.)  Local.  The  house  by  the  "ash,"  or  the 
village  on  a  place  abounding  in  ash-trees ;  by  signifying  a 
Villa  or  habitation. 

ASHFORD.  (Sax.)  Local.  A  town  in  Kent,  England,  on 
the  river  Ash  or  Esh — the  ford  over  the  Ash. 

ASHLEY.  (Sax.)  Local.  The  lea,  field,  or  pasture  abound- 
ing in  ash-trees.  Leegh,  leg,  or  lea,  signifying  uncultivated 
grounds  or  pastures ;  lands  untilled,  generally  used  as  com- 
mons. 

ASHTOK    (Sax.)    Local    The  ash-hill  or  town. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  67 

ASKEW.  (Sax.)  Local.  Acksheugh,  hilly  lands  covered  with 
oaks.  Aschau,  local,  a  town  on  the  bend  of  a  river  in  Sles- 
wick,  Denmark.     Askew,  crooked,  from  the  Danish. 

ASPINWALL.     (Sax.)    Local.    The  aspen-vale. 

ASTLEY.  (Sax.)  Local.  A  corruption  of  Estley  or  Easthy^ 
the  east  meadow  or  field.     (See  ley,  under  Ashley.) 

ASTON.  (Sax.)  Local.  A  corruption  of  Eston  or  Easton, 
the  east  town. 

ASTOR.  Local.  Oster,  a  town  in  North  Jutland.  'Aar^p, 
Greek,  a  star.  Austeuer,  German,  a  dowry,  a  portion. 
Ooster,  the  east  part. 

ATHERTON.  (Sax.)  Local.  From  Atherstone,  a  town  in 
Warwickshire,  England. 

ATHILL.  Local  At  (the)  hilL  This  family  formerly  bore 
the  name  of  "Z)e  la  Hou"  that  is,  "0/  the  hill/'  which  was 
anglicized  into  Athill  They  came  originally  fi-om  Nor- 
mandy. 

ATHOL.  (Celtic  and  Gaelic.)  Local.  A  district  of  Perth- 
shire, Scotland ;  from  ath,  a  ford,  and  al,  an  old  word  for  a 
rock,  a  stone, — Rockford,  or  the  ford  of  the  rock. 

ATHOW.  Local.  The  same  as  Athill;  how  or  hoo,  a  high 
place. 

ATKINS.  Camden  derives  it  from  At,  a  familiar  abbreviation 
of  Arthur,  and  kins,  a  diminutive,  signifying  a  child,  having 
the  same  meaning  as  the  German  kind,  a  child,  an  infant, 
i  e.j  the  son  of  Arthur,  so  Wilkins,  Simpkins,  etc. 

ATTREE.    Local.     At  (the)  tree. 

ATWATER.     Local.     At  (the)  water. 

ATWELL.    Local.    At  (the)  well. 

ATWOOD.    Local.    At  (the)  wood. 

3* 


58  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

"^  AUBREY.  A  corruption  of  the  German  Alberic,  a  name  given 
in  hope  of  power  or  wealth,  He  signifying  rich  or  powerful ; 
always  rich. 

AUCHIN'LECK.  Local.  A  parish  in  Ayrshire,  Scotland. 
The  etymology  of  the  name  may  be  found  in  the  Gaelic 
Ach,  an  elevation,  a  mound,  or  round  hill,  generally  level  at 
the  top;  and  leac,  a  flat  stone,  a  tombstone.  In  several 
parts  of  Ayrshire  may  be  traced  the  remains  of  cairns,  en- 
campments, and  Druidical  circles.  Auchinleck  appears  to 
have  been  one  of  those  places  where  the  ancient  Celts  and 
Druids  held  conventions,  celebrated  their  festivals,  and  per- 
formed acts  of  worship. 

AUCHMUTY.  (Gaehc.)  Local.  The  field  or  mount  of  law ; 
an  eminence  in  which  law-courts  were  held,  moot-MUSj  as 
they  were  called;  from  Ach,  an  elevation,  a  mound,  and 
mod,  a  court,  an  assembly,  a  meeting. 

AUDLEY.  (Sax.)  Local.  From  aid  or  aud,  old,  and  ley,  a 
field  or  pasture — the  old  field 

\J   AUSTIN".     (Latin.)     A  contraction  of  Augustine,  from  Augus- 
tinus,  imperial,  royal,  great,  renowned. 

AVERILL.  Local.  A  corruption  of  Haverhill,  the  aspirate 
being  dropped.  Haverill  is  a  town  in  Suffolk,  England,  so 
named  from  the  Dutch  Hyver,  Teut.,  Haher,  oats,  and  hill — 
the  hill  sown  with  oats. 

^    AYERY.     (GaeHc.)      From  Aimhrea  (the  "  mh"  having  the 
sound  of  "v"),  denoting  contention  or  disagreement.    It 
may  be  from  Avery ^  a  granary,  or  from  Aviarius^  Latin,  a 
bird-keeper. 
vj  AVIS.    Avis,  in  French,  is  a  projector,  schemer,  busy-body. 
Avus,  Latin,  a  grandfather,  ancestor.     Avis,  a  bird. 
AYLMER.     This  family  trace  their  name  -and  descent  from 
V         Ailmer  or  Athelmare,  Earl  of  Cornwall,  in  the  time  of  King 
Ethelred.     AUmor,  in  Welsh,  signifies  a  valley  or  dale. 
AYLS  WORTH.     This  name  admits  of  several  meanings ;  JSW, 


OF    FAMILY    NAMjSS.  B% 

Saxon,  finished,  completed,  and  worthy  a  farm-liouse  or  vil- 
lage. Aylesj  Cor.  Br.,  low  meadow,  flat  lands,  washed  by  a 
river,  sea,  or  lake,  and  gweiik,  a  worth,  farm,  house,  village. 

AYLEWARD.    The  ale-keeper. 

AYRES.  Local.  Derived  from  a  river,  town,  and  district  of 
the  same  name  in  Scotland.  Air,  Gaelic,  Derivation  un- 
certain. It  may  come  from  lar,  west — the  course  in  which 
the  river  runs ;  or  Air,  slaughter,  the  place  of  battle.  The 
Celtic  Aer,  and  the  Welsh  Aiuyr,  signify,  radically,  to  open, 
expand  or  flow  clearly ;  to  shoot  or  radiate.  In  Thoi-pe's 
catalogue  of  the  deeds  of  Battle  Abbey,  we  find  the  follow- 
ing legendary  account  of  this  name : 

"  Ayres,  formerly  Eyre.  The  first  of  this  family  was  named 
Truelove,  one  of  the  followers  of  William  the  Conqueror. 
At  the  battle  of  Hastings,  Duke  William  was  flung  from  his 
horse,  and  his  helmet  beaten  into  his  face,  which  Truelove 
observing,  pulled  ofi',  and  horsed  him  again.  The  duke  told 
him  '  Thou  shalt  hereafter  from  Truelove  be  called  Eyre  (or 
Air),  because  thou  hast  given  me  the  air  I  breathe.'  After 
the  battle,  the  Duke,  on  inquiry  respecting  him,  found  him 
severely  wounded  (his  leg  and  thigh  having  been  struck 
off) ;  he  ordered  him  the  utmost  care,  and  on  his  recovery, 
gave  him  lands  in  Derby,  in  reward  for  his  services,  and  the 
leg  and  thigh  in  armor,  cut  off,  for  his  crest ;  an  honorary 
badge  yet  worn  by  all  the  Eyres  in  England." 

BABA.     German,  Babe,  a  boy;  Greek,  Ba^a,  an  inarticulate 

sound,  as  of  an  infant  crying  out;  hence,  a  little  child;  to 

say  Baha,  that  is,  father  or  Papa.    The  word  is  nearly  the 

.   same  in  all  languages ;  it  signifies  a  young  child  of  either  sex, 

BABER.  (Gaelic.)  Bahair  or  Basbair,  a  fencer  or  swords- 
man ;  one  who,  by  his  blows,  produced  death ;  from  Bas, 
death,  and /ear,  a  man. 

BABCOCK.  Little  Bab,  or  Bartholomew;  from  Bah,  a  nick- 
name for  Bartholomew,  and  cock,  small,  little,  a  son;  dc, 
cock,  el,  and  et  are  diminutives,  and  include  the  ideas  of  kind- 


i/ 


60  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARr 

ness  and  tenderness,  associated  with  smallness  of  size.  It 
may  be  from  Boh^  the  nickname  for  Robert;  BobcocJc,  the 
son  of  Bobert,  Bobertson. 

BACHELOR.  Erom  the  Dutch  Bock,  a  book,  and  leeraar,  a 
doctor  of  divinity,  law,  or  physic.  When  applied  to  persons 
of  a  certain  military  rank,  it  may  be  a  corruption  of  Bos 
chevalier  J  because  lower  in  dignity  than  the  milites  bannereU. 
Killian  adopts  the  opinion  that  as  the  soldier  who  has  once 
been  engaged  in  battle,  is  called  batialarius,  so  he  who  has 
once  been  engaged  in  literary  warfare,  in  public  dispute  upon 
any  subject.  Calepinus  thinks  that  those  who  took  the  degree 
of  Bachelor,  were  so  called  (Baccalaurei),  because  a  chaplet 
of  laurel  berries  was  placed  upon  them.  The  w'ord,  how- 
ever, has  probably  but  one  origin,  which  would  account  for 
its  various  applications. 

BACKMAK  German,  Bach,  a  brook,  and  man.  Boehnan 
bookman.  Bach,  in  some  places,  a  ferry;  Backman,  a  ferry- 
man. 

BACKUS.     (Germ.)     From  Back-haus,  a  bake-house. 

BACON.  Bacon,  from  the  Anglo-Saxon  bacan,  to  bake,  to  dry 
by  heat.  Some  derive  this  surname  from  the  Saxon  baccen 
or  buccen,  a  beech-tree.  Upon  the  monument  of  Thomas 
Bacon,  in  Brome  Church  in  Suffolk  (Eng,),  there  is  a  beech- 
tree  engraven  in  brass,  with  a  man  resting  under  it.  It  ap- 
pears, also,  that  the  first  Lord-keeper,  Sir  Nicholas  Bacon, 
with  his  two  wives,  are  represented  in  a  similar  manner. 

BADEAU.  (Fr.)  Camden  says  this  was  a  name  given  to  the 
Parisians  who  admired  every  thing  that  seems  a  little  extra- 
ordinary. 

BADGER.  A  licensed  dealer  in  grain ;  a  hawker,  a  peddler ; 
also,  the  name  of  a  small  animal. 

BADGELY.     Bagasly,  local.     From  a  town  in  Scotland. 

BAGLEY.  (Sax.)  Local.  The  rising  or  swelling  ground 
that  lies  untilled ;  from  bcelge,  rising  or  swelling,  and  leagh 
or  ley,  plain  or  pasture  land. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  61 

BAGOT.  (Fr.)  A  stay  or  walking  stajQf ;  a  gunstick  or  drum- 
stick, from  Baguette.  It  may  be  a  corruption  of  Bigot 
(which  see).     Bctgad,  in  the  Welsh,  signifies  a  great  many. 

BAILEY.  A  name  of  office ;  a  corruption  of  Bailiff,  which  is 
derived  from  the  French  bailler,  to  dehver.  A  municipal 
officer  in  Scotland  corresponding  to  an  alderman. 

BAILLIE.     (Fr.)     Bailie,  a  bailiff;  same  as  BaUey. 

BAIN  or  BAINE.  (Celtic.)  Whiteness,  fairness.  Bain  is 
also  a  bath  or  hot-house.  The  name  may  be  local,  from 
Bain,  a  town  in  France.  t '       • 

BAISLEY.     Baisedlach,  Gaelic,  proud. 

BAITS.  A  word  used  in  several  languages,  and  signifies  to 
feed,  to  rest  for  refreshment;  one  who  kept  a  house  of 
entertainment. 

B AKJjR.  (Sax.)  A  name  of  trade,  a  baker ;  fi:om  the  Saxon 
hacan,  to  dry  by  heat. 

BALL.  (Cor.  Br.  and  Gaelic.)  Bal,  a  mine,  tlie  top  of  a  hill,  the  top. 

BALCOMBE.  Local.  From  Bal,  GaeHc,  a  round  body,  any 
tiling  thrown  up;  a  building,  house,  town;  and  comhe,  a 
valley ;  the  round  valley ;  tin-works  thrown  up  in  a  valley, 
or  a  dwelling  in  such  a  place. 

BALDWIN.  (Ger.)  The  speedy  conqueror  or  victor;  from 
bald,  quick  or  speedy,  and  win,  an  old  word  signifying  vic- 
tor or  conqueror,  as  Bert-win,  famous  victor;  All-win,  all 
victorious,  etc. 

BALEN.  Belen,  in  the  Cor.  British,  is  the  same  as  Helen,  a 
mill.  Belly n,  local,  a  town  in  Lower  Saxony.  Balaen, 
Welsh,  steel,  denoting  strength  and  durability. 

BALFOUR.  Local.  From  the  barony  and  castle  of  Balfour, 
near  the  confluence  of  the  rivers  Or  and  Leven.  (Scot.)  Ball 
and  BaUa,  in  Gaelic,  signifies  a  casting  up,  raising,  like  the 
Greek  Bd/i^o),  and  denotes  a  wall,  fortress,  house,  a  village, 
Balfour,  i.  e.,  the  Keep,  or  castle  on  the  river  Or.  Balfoir^ 
the  castle  of  deliverance  or  security. 


V^" 


62  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

,"* 

BALLANTINE.  Local.  A  place  Avbere  Bal  or  Belus  was 
worshiped  by  the  Celts ;  from  Bal  and  teine,  fire. 

V  BALLANTYNE.  Local.  A  place  of  ancient  pagan  worship 
among  the  Celts,  whose  principal  deity  was  BeJen  or  Baal, 
the  sun.  To  the  honor  of  this  deity,  the  Celts  lighted  fires 
on  the  1st  of  May  and  Midsummer  day.  Baalaniine  signi- 
fies "  the  fire  of  Baal,"  from  Baakn  and  teine^  Gaehc,  fire. 

BALLARD.  (Celtic  and  Gaelic.)  From  Ball,  a  place,  a  round 
elevation ;  and  ard,  liigh.  The  GaeUc  word  Ballart  signifies 
noisy,  boasting.     Bal  also  signifies  a  lord,  and  ard,  high. 

BANCHO.  (Gaeha)  The  white  dog ;  from  Jaw,  white,  and 
chu  or  cw,  a  dog.     Bankhoo  (Eng.),  the  high  bank. 

BANCROFT.  Local.  From  the  Cor.  Br.  ban,  a  mount,  hill,  or 
high  ground;  and  croft,  a  small  field  near  a  dweUing — a 
green  pasture. 

BANGS.  This  name  may  be  a  corruption  of  Banks,  or  from 
the  French  bain,  a  batli,  a  hot-house. 

BANNATYNE.  Local  The  name  of  a  place  in  Scotland,  sig- 
nifying the  hill  where  fires  were  kindled. 

BANNERMAN.  A  name  of  ofiice  in  Scotland  borne  by  the 
king's  standard-bearer. 

BANNING.     Baaning,  Danisli,  a  home,  a  dwelling. 

BANNISTER.     The  keeper  of  a  bath;  fi-om  the  French  Jam, 

a  batli, 
BANT.     (Welsh.)     A  high  place;  Bant-Ue. 
BANTA.     (Gaelic.)     Local.     From  Beaunta,  hills,  mountains. 

BANVARD.  (Cor.  Br.)  Local  From  ban,  a  mount,  hill,  or 
liigh  ground ;  and  vard,  a  rampart,  that  is,  a  fortified  hill  or 
castle. 

BAR.  Local  A  town  of  France.  Barr,  a  parish  in  Ayrshire, 
Scotland, 

BARBER.     A  name  of  trade,  one  who  shaves  and  dresses  hair. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  6$ 

BAECLAY.  (Sax.)  Local.  A  corraption  of  Berkeley;  a 
town  in  Gloucestershire,  England,  derived  from  the  Saxon 
heorce,  a  beech-tree,  and  leagh  or  ley,  a  field,  and  so  called 
because  of  the  plenty  of  beech-trees  growing  there. 

BARCULO.  (Dutch.)  Local.  From  Borhulo,  a  town  in 
Holland,     The  name  was  originally  Van  Borhulo. 

BARD.  (Celtic.)  Local.  From  hawr,  a  top  or  summit,  the 
highest ;  and  eidde  or  oidde,  instructor — the  chief  preceptor, 
instructor,  or  poet. 

BARDEL.     (Welsh.)     Local.     A  fortification. 

BARHYDT.  (Dutch.)  From  Barheid,  sharpness,  roughness, 
severity. 

BARKER.    A  tanner. 

*'  What  craftsman  art  thou,  said  the  king, 
I  pray  thee  tell  me  trowe  ? 
I  am  a  Barker,  sir,  by  my  trade, 
Now  tell  me,  what  art  thou  ?" 

PERCY'S  RELIQUES. 

BARNARD.     The  same  as  Bernard  (which  see). 

BARNES.  A  distinguished  family  of  Sotterly,  Co.  Suffolk, 
England.  Beam,  local,  a  city  in  France.  Barnyz,  Cor.  Br., 
a  judge. 

BARNET.     Local.     A  town  hi  Hertfordshire,  England. 

BARNEY.  A  familiar  abbreviation  or  corruption  of  Bernard, 
or  Barnard  (which  see). 

BARNWELL.  Local  From  the  old  EngHsh  Bearne,  a  wood, 
and  veld,  a  field. 

BARNUM.  Local.  A  corruption  of  Bearnham,  the  town  in 
the  wood  or  hill.  Bern,  in  the  Swiss  language,  signifies  a 
bear.  This  family  was  originally  of  Southvnck,  County 
Hants,  England. 


64  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

BAKR.  (Celtic.)  Local.  The  top  or  summit  of  any  thing; 
any  thing  round.  Bar,  Gaelic,  an  old  word  for  a  bard  or 
learned  man.  Bar,  local,  a  bank  of  sand  or  earth,  a  shoal ; 
the  shore  of  the  sea.  It  may  be  derived  from  Barre,  a  town 
in  France,  or  from  Barr,  a  parish  and  village  in  Ayrshire, 
Scotland. 

BARRAS.  (Saxon.)  Local.  From  Baerwas,  Saxon,  groves, 
a  place  among  trees ;  a  town  in  England. 

BARRELL.     (G-aelic.)     From  Barrail,  excellent,  surpassing. 

BARRET.  (Fr.)  Cunning;  from  the  old  French  iarat,  strife, 
deceit 

BARRINGER.  Local  A  corruption  of  Beranger  (Lat,  Ber- 
engarus) ;  from  Beringer,  a  town  in  France,  where  a  battle 
was  fought  between  the  French  and  the  English. 

BARRON  or  BARON.  The  word  Baron  is  of  Celtic  extrac- 
tion, and  originally  synonymous  with  Tnan  in  general.  It 
has  this  meaning  in  the  SaHc  law,  and  in  the  laws  of  the 
Lombards ;  in  the  English  law,  the  phrase  haron  and  feme 
is  equivalent  to  man  and  wife.  It  was  afterward  used  to 
denote  a  man  of  respectability,  a  stout  or  valiant  man ;  and 
Barone  was  also  used  by  the  Itahans  to  signify  a  beggar. 

From  denoting  a  stout  or  valiant  man,  it  was  employed  as  a 
name  for  a  distinguished  military  leader,  who  having  fought 
and  conquered  under  some  great  commander,  was  afterward 
rewarded  by  him  with  a  part  of  the  lands  which  he  had 
acquired. 

As  a  surname,  it  was  originally  Le  Baron,  The  Baron.  Gaelic, 
Baran,  a  baron. 

BARROW.  Local  A  circular  earthen  mound,  marking  the 
place  of  interment  of  some  noted  person ;  also  a  place  of  de- 
fense.    The  name  of  a  river  in  Ireland. 

BARRY.  Local.  From  the  Barry  Islands  in  Glamorganshire, 
Wales;  so  called,  says  Bailey,  from  Baruch,  a  devout  man 
who  was  interred  there. 


OF   FAMILY    NAMES,  65 

BARSTOW.  Local.  May  have  various  significations,  Barr, 
the  top  of  a  hill,  and  stow,  a  place  or  depository.  Bar,  in 
the  G-aelic,  Welsh,  and  Cornish-British,  means  the  summit 
or  top  of  any  thing.  The  GaeKc  or  Irish  aran  and  harr, 
signify  bread,  a  crop  of  grain ;  Welsh,  har,  bread,  an  ear  of 
corn;  Saxon,  har  and  here,  corn,  barley.  Barstow,  a  place 
where  grain  is  stored. 

BARTHOLOMEW.  (Heb.)  The  son  of  him  who  maketh  the 
waters  to  mount,  or  a  son  that  suspends  the  waters. 

BARTLETT.     A  diminutive  of  Bartholomew— Uttle  Bart. 


4 


BARTON.  (Sax.)  Local.  From  a  town  in  Lincolnshire, 
England ;  a  corn  town,  or  barley  village,  from  here,  barley, 
and  ton,  an  inclosure,  a  house,  a  village.  Barton,  a  cur- 
tilage. In  Devonshire,  it  is  applied  to  any  freehold  estate 
not  possessed  of  manorial  privileges. 

BARTUL.     (Ger.)     An  abbreviation  of  Bartulph,  which  is  from    > 
Beorht,  and  ulph ;  that  is,  help  in  counsel,  or  famous  helper. 
Bariel,  an  abbreviation  of  Bartholomew,  used  in  HoUand. 

BARWICK  or  BERWICK.  Local.  A  town  in  Northumber- 
land, Eng.,  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Tweed.  The  name 
signifies,  the  town  at  the  mouth  of  a  river,  from  aier,  the 
mouth,  and  wicJc,  a  town  or  harbor.  Berewich,  the  corn- 
town,  fi:om  here,  barley,  com. 

BASFORD.    Local.     The  shallow  ford  or  way. 

BASIL.     (Grreek.)     From  Ba(n?.ev^,  royal,  kingly.  "h 

BASSET.  (Fr.)  A  Httle  fat  man  with  short  legs  and  thighs, 
from  the  French  Basset. 

BATEMAN.  May  have  two  significations,  Baitman,  a  keeper 
of  a  house  of  entertainment,  and  Bateman,  a  contentious 
man,  from  hate,  Saxon,  strife,  to  beat,  contention. 

BATES.     Bate,  Anglo-Saxon,  contention. 


6d  ETYMOLOGICAL    DICTIONARY 

BATH.  (Sax.)  Local.  A  town  in  the  county  of  Somerset, 
Eng.,  fiimous  for  its  liot  baths ;  so  named  from  the  Saxon, 
had^  Teutonic,  had^  a  place  to  bathe  or  wash  in.  It  was 
called  by  the  Saxons  Acmanceaster,  or  the  "  sick  folks'  town ;" 
and  by  the  Britons,  Caerhaddon,  from  Caer^  a  fortified  place 
or  city,  and  baddon^  a  bathing-place,  from  badd^  a  bath. 

BATHURST.  (Sax.)  Local  From  Bath,  as  above,  and 
hurst,  a  place  of  fruit-trees,  a  wood  or  grove.  Boothhurst, 
the  house  or  lodge  in  the  grove. 

BAUM.  (Germ.)  A  tree.  It  may  be  derived  from  a  town  in 
France  by  that  name. 

BAXTER.     (Anglo-Saxon.)     Bagster,  a  baker. 

BEACH.    Local     The  shore  of  the  sea,  lake,  or  river. 

BEACHER.     A  dweller  on  the  beach  or  bay, 

BEAL.  Local  Bid,  a  town  in  Switzerland.  The  Gaelic 
word  ^^Beul,"  signifies  the  mouth,  and  by  metonymy,  elo- 
quent, musical 

BEADLE.  A  name  of  office ;  a  messenger  or  crier  of  a  court ; 
an  officer  belonging  to  a  university  or  parish. 

BEATTT.  From  the  Celtic  Biatach.  Anciently,  in  Ireland, 
lands  were  assigned  by  the  government  to  a  certain  number 
of  persons  who  were  appointed  to  keep  houses  of  entertain- 
ment, and  to  exercise  hospitahty  in  the  different  provinces ; 
they  were  called  Biatachs.  The  office  was  considered  hon- 
orable, and  besides  the  lands  assigned  by  the  king,  they 
were  the  lords  of  seven  boroughs  or  villages,  feeding  seven 
herds  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  oxen  each,  besides  the 
grain  raised  from  seven  ploughs  every  year.  Beathaich,  in 
the  Gaelic,  signifies  to  feed,  nourish,  to  welcome,  to  support. 
^^Beaia  mor,"  Irish,  to  have  a  great  estate.  Beatha,  Gaelic, 
life,  food,  welcome,  salutation. 

BBAUCHAMP.  (Nor.  Fr.)  Be  Beauchamp,  from  the  fair  or 
beautiful  field ;  in  Latin.  Be  Bello  Campo. 


OF    FAMILY   NAMES.  6Y 

BEAUFORT.  (Nor.  Fr.)  De  Beaufort^  from  the  fine  or 
commodious  fort.     De  Bello  Forti. 

BEAUMONT.  (Nor.  Fr.)  De  Beaumont;  a  city  in  France, 
on  the  river  Sarte,  in  the  province  of  Mayne ;  the  fair 
mount.     De  Bello  Monte. 

BEAUVAIS.  (Fr.)  De  Beauvais.  From  a  town  in  France 
of  that  name,  signifying  the  sightly  or  beautiful  place. 

BECK.     (Anglo-Saxon.)    Local     From  hecc,  a  brook. 

BECKETT.  Local.  A  little  brook,  (By  no  means  appropri- 
ate to  the  furious  St.  Thomas  of  Canterbury ! 

BECK^ER.  (Ger.)  From  heclcer,  the  same  as  hacJcer,  a  baker. 
It  may  be  from  hecher,  a  cup  or  goblet,  from  hechern,  to  tip- 
ple; '^der  Becher"  (Grer.),  drinker,  a  tippler;  the  same  in 
Dutch. 

BECKFORD.     (Sax.)     Local.     The  brook-ford. 

BECKLEY  or  BEAKLEY.  Local.  The  meadow  or  pasture 
by  the  brook ;  from  beckj  a  brook,  and  ley,  field  or  meadow. 

BECKMAN.  A  dweller  by  a  brook  or  stream,  or  on  a  bee,  or 
neck  of  land. 

BECKWITH.  Local.  The  same  as  Beckworth,  the  farm  or 
place  by  the  brook,  fi-om  hecJc,  a  brook,  and  worth,  a  farm. 

BED  ALE.     Local.    From  a  town  in  England  by  that  name. 

BEDE.  He  that  prayeth,  or  a  devout  man.  "To  say  our 
Bedes,  is  but  to  say  our  prayers." 

BEDDAU.  (Welsh.)  Local.  Graves.  "Bhos-y  Beddau,"  ihe 
heath  of  the  graves,  referring  to  Druidical  rites. 

BEDEAU.  (Fr.)  From  hedeau,  a  beadle,  mace-bearer;  a 
petty  officer  in  parishes. 

BEDELL.  The  same  as  Beadle,  of  which  it  is  a  corruption;  an 
officer  belonging  to  a  court,  university,  ward,  or  parish. 


68  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

BEDFORD.  Local  A  town  and  shire  in  England ;  from  the 
Saxon  bcdan,  battle,  war,  slaughter,  and  ford,  a  way  or  shal- 
low place  for  crossing  a  river.  Byddin-ffordd,  Welsh,  the 
route  or  way  of  the  army. 

BEECHER.  (Fr.)  Beau  chere,  fine  entertainment;  or  from 
the  beech-wood. 

BEERS.  Local  From  Beer,  a  town  in  Dorsetshire,  England ; 
so  called  fi-om  here,  grain,  barley ;  a  fruitful  place.  In  the 
Dutch,  beer  signifies  a  bear,  a  boar. 

BEGG.     From  the  Gaehc  Beag,  HtUe,  young,  small  of  stature. 

BELCHER.  (Old  French.)  Bel-chere,  good  cheer,  fine  enter- 
tainment; a  happier  name  than  to  be  a  Belcher,  and  swell 
with  pride  or  passion. 

BELDEK  (Cor.  Br.)  The  beautifiil  hill;  or  BeiMin,  the  hill 
of  Belus,  a  place  of  Druid-worship. 

BELL.  A  name  taken  from  the  sign  of  an  inn  or  shop.  The 
sign  of  a  bell  was  frequently  used.  "  John  at  the  Bell"  be- 
came "  John  Bell"     Bel,  French,  beautiful,  handsome,  fine. 

BELLAMONT.  (Fr.)  Be  BeUamont,  from  the  fair  or  beau- 
tiful mount.     De  Bello  Monte. 

BELLAMY.  Local.  From  Bellesme,  a  town  of  France ;  or  it 
may  be  Belami,  French,  a  dear  and  excellent  friend ;  from 
hel,  fair  or  beautiful,  and  ami,  a  friend  or  companion. 

BELLBW.  (Nor.  Fr.)  De  Bellew,  a  corruption  of  Be  Belle 
Eau,  that  is,  "  from  the  beautiful  water."  The  family  orig- 
inally came  from  Italy ;  they  went  into  England  with  Wil- 
ham  the  Conqueror,  and  afterward  settled  in  Meath,  Ireland. 

BELLINGtER.  Local  From  Bellinger,  a  town  in  South  Jut- 
land. 

BELMONT.  (Fr.)  De  Belmont,  from  the  fair  mount;  the 
same  as  BeUamont — De  Bello  Monte, 

BELYIDERE.  (Italian.)  Pleasant  to  behold;  from  Bello, 
pleasant,  and  videre,  to  see. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  6d 

BENEDICT.  (Latin.)  From  Benedictus,  blessed,  well  spoken 
of,  or  a  person  wishing  aU  good. 

BENJAMIN.  (Heb.)  The  son  of  the  right  hand ;  the  young- 
est of  Jacob's  twelve  sons. 

BENNETT  or  BENNET.  A  contraction  or  rather  a  corrup- 
tion of  Benedict,  from  Benedktus,  blessed. 

BENT.     Local.     A  plain,  a  moor,  covered  with  the  bent-grasa. 

BENTLEY.  Local.  Erom  lent,  as  above,  and  ley,  uncultivated 
ground,  a  pasture. 

BENSON.    Ben's-son,  the  son  of  Benjamin. 

BEORN.     (Saxon.)     A  chief. 

BERESFORD.  The  bears'-ford,  from  heris,  bears,  according  to 
Chaucer.  Barrasford,  from  harra,  an  old  word  for  a  plain, 
open  heath. 

BERKELEY.  (Sax.)  Local  From  the  town  of  Berkeley,  in 
Gloucestershire,  England,  derived  from  the  Saxon  Beorce,  a 
beech-tree,  or  the  box-tree,  and  leagh  or  ley,  a  field,  and  so 
called  because  of  the  plenty  of  beech-trees  there  growing. 

BERNARD  or  BARNARD.  (Sax.)  From  Beam  or  Bairin, 
a  child,  and  ard  (Teut),  nature,  disposition ;  of  a  child-like 
disposition ;  filial  affection.  Yerstegan  brings  it  from  Beorn, 
heart — one  of  a  stout  heart. 

BERRY.  (Fr.)  Local.  From  the  province  of  Berri,  in 
France. 

BERTRAM  or  BERTRAND.     (Sax.)     Fair  and  pure. 

BETTS.     (Latin.)     A  contraction  of  the  Latin  Beatus,  happy. 

BETHUNE.  Local.  From  the  town  of  Bethune,  a  fortified 
town,  and  capital  of  a  county  in  Artois,  Netherlands. 

BEY  AN.  (Welsh.)  A  contraction  of  Ap  Evan,  or  Ivan,  the 
son  of  John ;  from  ap,  son,  or  hterally /row,  and  Ivan,  John. 
So  Brice,  from  Ap  Rice ;  Pritchard,  from  Ap  Richard,  etc. 


si 


-4 


J 


70  ETYMOLOGICAL  DICTIONARY 

BEYERIDGE.  Local  From  a  town  in  the  county  of  Dorset, 
England.  Bever  is  probably  a  contraction  of  Belvoir  (Fr.), 
that  is,  fine  prospect ;  and  ridge^  the  back  or  top  of  a  hill. 
A  town  located  on  a  hill. 

BEVERLY.  Local.  From  the  borough  of  Beverly  in  York- 
shire, England ;  from  Belvoir,  a  beautiful  prospect,  and  ley, 
a  place  or  field.  Some  say  "the  lake  of  beavers,"  from 
Beverlac,  and  so  called  from  the  beavers  which  abounded 
in  the  river  Hull,  near  by. 

BEWLEY.  A  corruption  of  the  French  Beaulieu,  that  is,  a 
beautiful  place. 

BICKERSTETH.  Supposed  to  come  from  the  Welsh  word 
hicra,  to  fight,  to  bicker,  and  steth,  a  corruption  of  staff,  used 
for  tilting  or  skirmishing.  Probably  taken  from  the  sign  of 
an  inn.  Beker  (Dutch),  is  a  drinking-cup,  Bekeren,  to  drink, 
to  tipple,  guzzle,  with  the  termination  steth,  for  sted,  a  place. 

BIDDLE.     The  same  as  Bedell  and  Beadle  (which  see). 

BIDDULPH.  Probably  the  same  as  Boiolph,  which  Camden 
derives  from  Boat,  and  ulph  (Saxon),  Help,  because,  per- 
haps, he  was  the  mariner's  tutelar  saint,  and  for  that  reason 
was  so  much  adored  at  Boston,  in  England. 

BIGALOW.  Bygglu,  in  the  Welsh,  signifies  to  hector,  to  bully. 
In  the  Cor.  Br.,  Bygel  is  a  herdsman,  a  shepherd,  and  the 
name  may  have  been  applied  to  the  commander  of  an  army. 

BIGG-AR.  Local.  A  town  in  Lanarkshire,  Scotland.  Buy- 
gar,  in  Danish,  signifies  a  builder. 

BIGLER.  (French.)  One  who  sq'iints.  Bygylor,  Welsh,  a 
hector. 

BIGGORE.    Local.     An  ancient  province  of  France. 

BIGOT  or  BIGOD.  A  name  given  by  the  French  to  the  Nor- 
mans, because,  as  Camden  says,  "  At  every  other  word  they 
would  swear  ^ By  God,'''  from  which  they  were  termed 
Bigodi.    It  became  the  surname  of  Roger  de  Montgomery, 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  ^I 

one  of  tlie  followers  of  William  the  Conqueror,  who  was 
called  Roger  Bigod.  The  English  word  higot  has  probably 
the  same  origin. 

BIGSBY.  (Danish.)  The  place  near  the  town;  from  higSj 
near,  and  ly^  the  town. 

BILLINGS.  Local.  From  the  town  of  Billing,  in  Lincoln- 
shire, England.  Beilean,  GaeHc,  loquacious;  a  prattling 
person. 

BING.  (Danish.)  Local.  Any  thing  that  incloses ;  from  the 
Danish  hinge,  a  pen,  a  bin,  a  corn-bin ;  a  name  given  to  a 
place  where  supplies  or  provisions  were  kept. 

BINGHAM.  Local.  From  the  to-^vn  of  Bingham,  in  Notting- 
hamshire, so  named  from  the  Danish  Bing,  a  place  where 
provisions  were  deposited;  and  ham,  a  town  or  village, 
Bingham,  a  depository  for  grain ;  a  place  tiUed,  inhabited. 

BINNEY.  Local.  From  the  Cor.  Br.  Bin,  a  hill;  and  ey, 
water ;  or  from  Buinne,  Gaelic,  a  cataract,  a  stream.  Bin- 
neach,  in  the  Gaelic,  also  signifies  hilly,  pinnacled,  mount- 
ains. 

BIORN.  (Danish.)  A  bear ;  denoting  courage  and  strength^ 
the  same  as  Byron.     Beren,  Saxon,  belonging  to  a  bear. 

BIRCH.  Local.  A  name  probably  given  from  residing  at  or 
near  a  birch-tree.     "  John  at  the  birch,"  etc. 

BIRNIE  and  BIRNEY.  Local.  A  parish  in  the  shire  of 
Elgin,  Scotland.  It  was  formerly  named  Brenuth,  from 
hrae-nut,  as  many  hazel-trees  grew  there.  The  natives 
called  it  Burn-nigh,  that  is,  a  village  nea/r  ike  Burn  or 
river,  now  corrupted  to  Birnie. 

BIXBY.     (Danish.)     Local.    The  house  or  village  among  the 

.    box-trees. 
BLACKBURN.    Local.    The  black  brook  or  stream. 
BLACKWOOD.     Local.     This  family  derived  their  name  from 

the  lands  of  Baron  Dufferin  and  Claneboye,  in  Scotland, 

called  Blackwood. 


*f2  ETYMOLOGICAL    DICTIONARY 

BL AIN".  (Ft.)  LoeaL  From  the  town  of  Blain,  in  Breta^e, 
France.  Blaen^  in  tiie  Welsh,  signifies  the  summit  or  top ; 
the  same  as  pen,  brig,  and  bar,  the  highest  part  of  a  mount- 
ain ;  the  end  or  top  of  an  object ;  the  inland  extremity  of  a 
glen ;  a  leader  or  chief. 

BLAIR.  (Celtic.)  Local.  From  Blair  or  JBlar^  which  origin- 
ally signified  ''  a  cleared  plain,"  but  from  the  Celts  generally 
choosing  such  plains  for  their  fields  of  battle,  blair  came  to 
signify  a  battle.  There  is  a  small  village  called  the  Blair 
near  Lochord,  about  two  miles  from  Lochleven,  in  Fifeshire, 
Scotland.  It  signifies  a  spot  where  a  battle  was  fought, 
"  locus  pugnce"  Here,  it  is  supposed,  an  engagement  took 
place  between  the  Romans  and  the  Caledonians,  a.d.  83. 

BLAISDALE.  Local  From  the  old  EngHsh  word  Blase, 
sprouting  forth,  luxuriant;  and  dale,  a  valley. 

BLAKE.  A  corruption  of  the  British  Ap  Ldke^  from  Ap,  signi- 
fying from,  or  son,  and  Lake, — ^the  son  of  Lake.  The  family 
went  into  Ireland  with  Strongbow,  where  the  name  be- 
came corrupted  into  Blake.  Ap  LaTce  was  one  of  the  knights 
of  Arthur's  Round  Table. 

BLAKEMAN".  A  corruption  of  Blackman,  a  name  probably 
given  from  having  a  dark  complexion. 

BLAND.     Mild,  gentle,  smooth. 

BLANEY.  Local.  Welsh,  Bluenae,  the  inland  extremity  of  a 
valley. 

BLASEDALB.     Local     A  place  in  Lancashire,  England. 

BLAUYELT.  (Ger.)  Local  The  blue  field;  fi:om  Blau, 
blue,  and  veld  or /eld,  field. 

BLEECKER  or  BLEEKER.  (Dutch.)  From  Bleeker,  a 
bleacher  or  whitener  of  hnen.     In  Danish,  bleger. 

BLIN.  (Welsh.)  Local.  The  same  as  Blaen,  a  point,  the 
inland  extremity  of  a  valley.  Blin  also  signifies  weary, 
troublesome. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  73 

BLISS.  In  English,  is  a  very  happy  name,  imposed  by  others 
on  the  individual.  Blys^  in  the  Welsh,  signifies  desiring, 
longing. 

BLIVEN.     (Danish.)     From  Behven,  afiable,  genteel,  kind. 

BLOOD.  In  tlie  Dutch,  signifies  timorous,  cowardly ;  a  simple- 
ton. Lower  informs  us  that  Godkin,  Blood  (S'blood),  and 
Sacre,  may  be  regarded  as  clipped  oaths,  and  given  as  names 
to  the  persons  in  the  habit  of  using  them ;  and  that  in  the 
neighborhood  of  a  fashionable  square  in  London,  are  now 
living  surgeons  whose  names  are  Churchyard,  Death,  Blood, 
and  Slaughter. 

BLOSS.  Local.  From  Blois,  the  chief  tovm  of  a  territory  of 
the  same  name  in  Orleans,  France. 

BLOUNT,  BLOUND,  or  BLOND.  (Nor.  Fr.)  Of  fair  hair  or 
complexion ;  from  the  French  Blond.  This  family  trace 
their  origin  to  the  Blondi  or  Brondi  of  Italy,  so  named  fi:om 
their  fair  complexion.  They  went  into  England  with  Wil- 
ham  the  Conqueror. 

BLUNDELL.  (Nor.  Fr.)  From  Blund  or  Blond,  fair-haired, 
and  having  the  same  signification,  only  in  a  lesser  degree. 
Blundell,  a  httle  fair-haired,  so  Bussdl,  from  Bous — red. 

BLUNT.     The  same  as  Blount  (which  see). 

BLYTH.     Glad,  gay,  joyful.    Blyth,  local,  a  town  in  England. 

BOARDMAN.     One  -^^ho  keeps  a  boarding-house. 

BOCK.     (Dutch.)     Bock,  a  book ;  hok,  a  goat. 

BOCOCK.     Beaucock,  a  fine  fellow ;  a  straggler. 

BODINE.  (Fr.)  Waggish,  merry,  sportive.  Boodinne,  in  the 
Dutch,  signifies  a  she-messenger. 

BODLEY.  (Cor.  Br.)  Local.  The  house  on  the  lea;  firom 
Bod,  a  house,  and  ley. 

BOGART.     CDutch.)    Local.    From  hoomgard,  an  orchard. 

4 


y 


■'"■^^^ 


ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 


BOGrUE.  Local.  From  the  residence  being  near  a  hog^  or 
■  from  the  Saxon  hoga^  a  bend,  a  bow,  a  corner ;  a  town  in 
France;  the  name  appears  on  ancient  coins  in  Sussex, 
England. 

BOLINGBROKE.  Local.  A  town  in  Lincolnshire,  England, 
the  birth-place  of  Henry  IV.  "  The  brook  or  bridge  near 
tlie  round  hill." 

BOLSTER.  (Cor.  Br.)  Local.  A  place  in  St.  Agnes,  Wales, 
and  signifies  an  entrenchment;  from  Bolla,  a  casting  or 
throwing  up,  and  ter,  the  earth.  Bolwestur,  Welsh,  a  Hang- 
er-on. 

!B0LT0N.  Local.  A  town  in  England;  the  round  hill;  the 
abrupt,  steep,  round  hill. 

BOND.  The  father  of  a  famUy,  "Pater  familias"  whence  hus- 
band, that  is,  house-hond.  BondSj  in  Danish,  is  a  peasant, 
countryman,  also  a  villager. 

BONAR.  Local.  A  town  in  Scotland ;  a  chain  of  hills ;  hills 
for  tillage ;  also,  the  hill  of  slaughter.  Cornish  British,  Bonar, 
the  house  of  slaughter. 

BONNAL.     (Cor.  Br.)    Local.     The  house  on  the  cliff. 

BONNER.      (Fr.)     From  Bonheur,  happiness,   good-fortune, 

prosperity. 

BONNEY.  (Scot)  Genteel,  fine,  spruce.  French,  Bon, 
Bonne,  good,  handsome. 

BONTECOU.  (Fr.)  Bmite,  goodness,  strength,  fruitfulness, 
and  ctd  (pron.  hi),  the  bottom,  behind ;  denoting,  figura- 
tively, the  humor  or  turn  of  mind. 

BOORMAN.     (Sax.  and  Ger.)     A  countryman  or  farmer. 

BOOTH.    A  small  cottage. 

BORDOEL.    Local.    A  town  in  Lower  Saxonv. 


OP    FAMILY    NAMES.  75 

BOKLAND.  (Cor.  Br.)  Local.  The  high  land ;  the  swelling 
or  rising  land ;  from  hor^  swelling,  rising,  and  land.  If  from 
the  Saxon^  it  signifies  the  land  belonging  to  the  common 
people.  Bordlands  were  lands  which  the  lords  kept  in  their 
hands  for  the  maintenance  of  their  board  or  table. 

Borland  is  the  name  of  a  village  in  Fifeshire,  Scotland,  whence 
the  family  may  have  originated. 

BORRATL.  (Gaelic.)  From  Borrail,  swaggering,  boastful, 
haughty,  proud.  Barrel,  in  old  English,  signifies  a  plain, 
rude  fellow,  a  boor. 

BOSCAWEK  (Cor.  Br.)  Local.  From  the  town  of  Bos- 
cawen,  in  Cornwall,  which  signifies  the  house  surrounded  by 
elder  trees. 

BOSTWICK.  (Cor.  Br.)  Local.  The  house  near  the  haven 
or  creek ;  from  Bos,  a  house,  and  wick,  a  haven  or  creek. 
It  may  be  from  the  Dutch  Bosch,  a  wood,  and  wick,  the 
town  in  the  wood.  Boswick,  in  the  Cornish-British,  is  the 
dwelling  near  the  harbor  or  village. 

BOSWELL.  Local.  A  corruption  of  Bosseville ;  from  Bosch, 
a  wood,  and  ville,  a  village.  Bothel,  G-aelic,  the  house  of  the 
powerful. 

BOTTESFORD.     Local.     A  town  in  England. 

BOUGHTON.  Local.  From  Boughton,  a  place  in  ITorthamp- 
tonshire,  England;  the  bowing  or  bending  hill.  Bouton, 
the  steep  or  abrupt  hill. 

BOUVIER.     (Fr.)     A  drover. 

BOTTOM.     Local.     Any  low  grounds ;  a  dale  or  valley. 

BOURNE.  Local.  From  the  town  of  Bourne,  in  Lincoln- 
shire, England,  which  is  so  named  from  the  old  English 
Bourne,  a  small  river  or  spring-well. 

BOUCHER.     (French.)     A  butcher ;  a  blood-thirsty  man. 

BOVIE.  (Fr.)  Local.  A  corruption  of  Beauvais,  a  town  in 
France,  whence  the  surname  originated,  and  which  signifiea 


Yd  ETYMOLOGICAL    DICTIONARY 

the  sightly  or  beautiful  place.     The  family  settled  in  Holland 
from  France. 

BOWERS.  From  hur,  Saxon,  a  chamber ;  a  cottage ;  a  shady 
recess. 

BOWEK  (Welsh.)  A  corruption  of  Ap  Owen,  the  son  of 
Owen,  so  Price  from  Ap  Rice,  and  Pricliard  from  Ap 
Richard. 

BOWES.  This  surname,  according  to  Grrose,  originated  as  fol- 
lows :  about  the  time  of  the  Conqueror,  there  was  a  town 
(on  the  site  of  the  Castle  of  Bowes),  which  the  tradition  of 
the  family  states,  was  burned.  It  then  belonged  to  the 
Earls  of  Brittany  and  Richmond.  The  castle  was  built,  as 
Mr.  Horseley  thinks,  out  of  the  ruins  of  the  Roman  Fortress, 
by  Alan  Niger,  the  second  earl  of  that  title,  who,  it  is  said, 
placed  therein  WUham,  his  relation,  with  five  hundred  arch- 
ers to  defend  it  against  some  insurgents  in  Cambridge  and 
Westmorland  confederated  with  the  Scots,  giving  him  for 
the  device  of  his  standard  the  arms  of  Brittany,  with  three 
bows  and  a  bundle  of  arrows,  whence  both  the  castle  and 
the  commander  derived  their  names;  the  former  being 
called  Bowes  Oasih,  and  the  latter,  William  de  Arcubus,  or 
WilHam  Bowes. 

BOWLES.  Probably  from  the  sign  of  an  inn,  as  "  John  at  the 
Bowl"  i.  e.,  at  the  sign  of  the  bowl.  Boel,  local,  a  town  in 
South  Jutland,  Denmark.  Boel,  Dutch,  an  estate,  also  one 
who  keeps  a  mistress. 

BOWMAN.     A  military  cognomen ;  an  archer. 

BOWNE.  (Cor.  Br.  and  Welsh.)  Signifies  ready,  active, 
nimble. 

BOWYER.     An  archer,  one  who  uses  a  bow ;  one  who  makes 
bows. 
"^>     BOYD.     (G-aelic.)     From  huidhe,  yellow-haired.    Boyd,  a  river 
of  England  that  unites  with  the  Avon. 

BOYER.     A  name  given  to  a  Grandee  among  the  Muscovites. 


OP   FAMILY   NAMES.  77 

BOYNTON.  Local.  From  Buvington,  in  the  Wolds,  in  the 
East  Eiding  of  Yorkshire,  England,  now  called  Boynton 
Dugdale,  so  named  from  its  being  higher  in  place  or  alti- 
tude. 

BRACY.     (Fr.)     Local.     From  Bracy^  a  town  in  Normandy. 

BRAINE.  Local.  A  small  town  and  abbey  on  the  river 
Yesle,  in  France.  Brain,  Gaelic,  a  chieftain ;  a  naval  com- 
mander ;  a  captain  of  a  ship. 

BRADBURN.     Local.     The  wide  or  broad  brook. 

BRADFORD.  Local.  A  town  on  the  Avon,  in  Wiltshire, 
England,  whence  the  surname  is  derived,  and  which  signifies 
the  hroad  ford,  there  being  at  that  place  a  ford  across  the 
Avon. 

BRADY.     (Gaelic.)     Breada,  handsome. 

BRAGG.     Brag,  among  the  Scandinavians,  was  the  god  of  elo-  \y^ 

quence,  and  the  word  was  anciently  used  in  the  sense  of 
eloquent;  also,  accomplished,  brave,  daring. 

BRAMAN.  Bramin,  a  priest  among  the  Hindoos.  Bremen, 
local,  a  city  of  Germany. 

BRAN.  (Gaehc.)  Poor ;  black ;  a  raven ,  a  mountain-stream. 
Welsh,  Iran,  a  crow ;  the  name  of  dark  rivers. 

BRAMHALL.  A  place  where  goods  are  sold ;  hram,  Danish, 
goods  on  sale. 

BRAND.  In  all  the  Teutonic  dialects  brand  signifies  to  burn ; 
also  a  sword,  either  from  its  brandishing,  or  from  its  ghtter- 
ing  brightness.     Brant,  a  hill ;  steep,  high ;  Welsh,  Bryn. 

BRANDE.     Local.     A  town  in  Denmark. 

BRANDON.  Local.  A  market-town  in  Suffolk,  England, 
and  means  either  the  hurnt  town,  or  the  crows'  hiU. 

BRANDRETH.  Bailey  defines  this  name  "the  curb  of  a 
well,"  but  I  think  the  name  is  local,  and  may  be  derived  as 
follows:   Bran,  both  Welsh  and  Gaehc,  signifies  a  swift 


7d  ETYMOLOGICAL    DICTIONARY 

river,  and  dreth,  the  sandy  shore  or  strand.  Brandreth  may 
also  mean  the  sandy  shore  frequented  by  wild-fowl,  from 
Bran,  a  crow,  and  dreth^  as  above.  Brwyndretli^  in  Welsh, 
denotes  the  shore  abounding  with  rushes,  from  hrwyn, 
rushes,  and  treth,  the  shore.  I  prefer,  however,  to  use 
Bran  in  the  sense  of  dark,  black,  and  then  we  have  the 
"  dark  shore,'^  or  water,  or  a  place  on  the  shore  of  the  river 
Bran. 

BEATT.     (Danish.)    Brave,  valiant,  coiu-ageous. 

BRECK.  Local.  An  old  word  signifying  broken,  a  gap; 
Brecca,  an  old  law  term  which  we  find  in  old  Latin  deeds, 
was  used  to  denote  a  breach,  decay,  or  want  of  repair. 
Breck  is  also  used  in  some  parts  of  England  to  denote  pas- 
ture.    Breck,  Gaehc,  is  a  wolf  or  wild  savage. 

BRECKENRIDaE.  Local  From  Brecken,  broken,  out  of 
repair ;  and  ridge.  Sax.,  ryg,  the  top  of  a  hill ;  a  house. 

BREED.  (Dutch.)  From  Breed,  broad,  large.  Brede,  local,  a 
town  in  Sussex,  England,  and  in  the  Danish,  signifies  brim, 
margin;  sea-side,  shore,  river-side. 

BREESE.  (Welsh.)  A  contraction  of  Ap  Reese,  the  son  of 
Reese,  or  Rice  (which  see) ;  so  Bevan  from  Ap  Evan,  Brke 
from  Ap  Rice,  etc.  Brys,  Welsh,  agihty,  quickness;  Bresse, 
local,  a  small  territory  in  Burgundy,  France. 

BRENDOK  (Cor.  Br.)  Local.  The  crow's  hill;  from  Brm, 
a  crow,  and  dun  or  don,  a  hill. 

BRENIQAN.     (Cor.  Br.)     A  Umpet. 

BRENIN".  (Cor.  Br.)  From  Brenhin,  a  tributary  prince;  a 
king.     Brenin,  Welsh,  a  chief. 

BRENTWOOD.  Local.  A  town  in  Essex,  England,  and  sig- 
nifies burnt- wood ;  brent  signifying  burnt,  from  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  brennan,  to  burn. 

BREWER,  BREWISTER,  BREWSTER.  A  brewer  of  malt 
liquor. 


OP    FAMILY    NAMES.  79 

BEET  aud  BRETT.  Probably  contracted  from  Breton,  a 
Briton;  hretle,  Frencli,  a  long  sword;  hrat  and  bretyn,  in 
the  Welsh,  signify  an  urchin. 

BRETON.  (British.)  A  native  of  Britain ;  Bretton,  a  town 
in  Fhntshire,  Wales. 

BREUILLY.     (Fr.)     LocaL     A  coppice. 

BRIAl!^  or  BRIOK  (G-aelic.)  The  noUy  descended^  from  Bri^ 
dignity,  honor,  and  aw,  diminutive  of  that  to  which  it  is  an- 
nexed, belonging  to  it ;  G-aelic,  gin  or  gen,  begotten.  Bri, 
Welsh,  honor;  h'iadd,  honorary.  Bailey  derives  Brian 
from  Bruiant,  Frencli,  clamorous.  Brian,  in  the  G-aelic, 
also  implies  one  who  is  fair-spoken,  wordy,  specious. 

BRIANT  or  BRYANT.  (Gaelic.)  Dignity,  honor;  from 
Bri,  exalted,  and  ant,  a  termination,  implying  the  being  or 
state  of  that  to  which  it  is  annexed ;  equivalent  to  the  Greek 
av,  and  the  Latin  ens. 

BRIENNE.  Local  A  town  of  France,  either  so  called  from 
its  elevation,  or  being  the  ancient  meeting-place  of  the 
Brians  or  nobles. 

BRILL.  (Dutch.)  Local  So  called  from  Bril,  a  neat  city  in 
tho  Netherlands. 

BRIARE.     Local     From  Briare,  a  town  in  the  province  of 

Orleans,  France. 

BRIERLT.  Local  The  briar-lee;  French,  hruyere,  shrubs 
growing  on  commons  and  heaths. 

BRICE.  (Welsh.)  A  contraction  of  Ap  Rice,  the  son  of  Rice, 
which  is  the  same  as  Rhys  or  Rhees  (see  Rhees).  Brys, 
Welsh,  haste,  quick,  hvely. 

BRICK.  A  corruption  of  Breck  (which  see).  We  cut  the  fol- 
lowing, on  this  name,  from  a  newspaper : 

A  certain  college-professor,  who  had  assembled  his  class  at  the 
commencement  of  the  term,  was  reading  over  the  Hst  of 
names  to  see  tliat  all  were  present.     It  chanced  that  one  of 


80  ETYMOLOGICAL,  DICTIONARY 

the  number  was  unknown  to  the  professor,  having  just 
entered  the  class. 

"  What  is  your  name,  sir  ?"  asked  the  professor,  looking  through 
his  spectacles. 

"  You  are  a  brick,"  was  the  startling  reply. 

"  Sir,"  said  the  professor,  half  starting  out  of  his  chair  at  the 
supposed  impertinence,  but  not  quite  sure  that  he  under- 
stood liim  correctly,  "  sir,  I  did  not  exactly  understand  your 
answer." 

"  You  are  a  brick,"  was  again  the  composed  reply. 

"This  is  intolerable,"  said  the  professor,  his  face  reddening; 
"  beware,  young  man,  how  you  attempt  to  insult  me." 

"  Insult  you  I"  said  the  student,  in  turn  astonished.  "  How  have 
I  done  it?" 

"  Did  you  not  say  I  was  a  brick  ?"  returned  the  professor,  with 
stifled  indignation. 

"  No,  sir ;  you  asked  me  my  name,  and  I  answered  your  ques- 
tion. My  name  is  U.  R.  A.  Bricks-Uriah  Reynolds  Ander- 
son Brick." 

"Ah,  indeed,"  murmured  the  professor,  sinking  back  into  his  seat 
in  confusion — "  it  was  a  misconception  on  my  part.  Will 
you  commence  the  lesson,  Mr.  Brick  ?" 

BRIDGE  and  BRIDGES.  Local.  Any  structure  of  wood, 
stone,  or  other  materials,  raised  over  rivers  for  the  passage 
of  men  and  other  animals. 

BRIDGMAK.  One  who  attends  a  bridge;  a  builder  of 
bridges. 

BRIDE.  (Gaehc.)  From  Brighidj  a  hostage,  pledge,  or  secu- 
rity. The  son  of  Bridget.  Cormac,  Archbishop  of  Cashel, 
in  his  glossary,  defines  BrigJiid  "  fiery  dart,"  and  that  it  was 
the  name  of  the  Muse  who  was  believed  to  preside  over 
■  poetry,  in  pagan  times,  in  Ireland.  Breochuidh,  a  term 
given  to  those  virgins  who  kept  the  perpetual  fire  of  Beil  or 
Belus  among  the  Druids  and  ancient  Celts. 

BRIGGS.  From  the  Anglo-Saxon  hrigg,  a  bridge;  brig, 
Welsh,  height,  the  top  of  any  thing. 


OP   FAMILY   NAMES.  81 

BEIG-HTOIsr.  Local.  A  town  on  the  coast  of  Sussex,  Eng- 
land, anciently  called  BrigJitelmstone,  from  Brithelm,  i.  e., 
bright  helmet,  who  was  bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells,  about  the 
year  955.     The  bright  town. 

BRIMMER.  From  the  Anglo-Saxon  Bremman,  Breme,  or 
Brrni,  to  extend,  to  amplify  to  the  utmost  limits ;  to  be  vio- 
lent, furious,  to  rage ;  a  violent,  bold,  furious  man ;  "  Fough- 
ten  breme,"  that  is,  "He  fought  furiously."  Br&mmer,  a 
native  of  Bremen^  Germany. 

BRINKERHOFF.  (Dutch.)  Brengerliof,  messenger  of  the 
court,  or  head  messenger  or  carrier ;  from  Brenger,  a  mes- 
senger, and  Tiof,  a  court,  or  Jioofd^  head,  chief,  a  leader. 

BRISBAN"  or  BRISBIK  This  name  is  local,  and  may  signify 
the  Mount  or  Hill  of  Judgment,  a  place  where  courts  were 
held  and  law  administered,  among  the  Celts  and  Britons, 
from  the  Cornish-British  Irez  or  hrys,  a  judgment,  a  trial  at 
law,  and  han,  a  hill,  a  mount.  In  Gaelic,  Breasban  signifies 
the  royal  mount ;  Briosgabhain,  the  rapid  river ;  Brisheinn, 
the  broken  hill  or  clifi*. 

BRISTED.  (Sax.)  Local.  From  hrihs,  bright,  pleasant,  and 
stead,  a  place — a  bright,  pleasant  place. 

BRISTOL.  (Gaelic  and  Welsh.)  Local.  A  city  in  England. 
The  name  signifies  "The  broken  chasm;"  from  bris,  Gaehc, 
broken,  and  tuU,  Welsh,  tol,  a  hole,  cleft  or  chasm.  This 
corresponds  to  the  ancient  name  of  Bristol,  which  was  Caer 
Oder,  i.  e.,  "  the  City  of  the  Gap"  or  chasm,  through  which 
the  Avon  finds  a  passage  to  the  sea. 

BRISTOW.  (Sax.)  Local.  From  briJis,  pleasant,  bright,  and 
stow,  the  same  as  stead,  a  place. 

BRITTE.    A  word  used  in  Dutch  poetry  for  a  Brittainer. 

BRITTON,  BRITTEN,  and  BRITTAK  A  native  of  Britain, 
the  ancient  name  of  England.  Several  derivations  have 
been  given  to  Britain,  such  as  Brydon  or  Prydyn,  Welsh, 
the  fair  tribe,  or  brave  men.  Bridaoine,  Gaelic,  from  Bri, 
dignity,  and  daoine^  men.  Pryddain,  the  fair  and  beautiful 
4-^ 


82  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

isle.     Brait  or  Briand,  extensive,  and  in,  land.     Brit-tcme, 
the  land  of  tin. 

BROCK  From  the  Saxon  Broc,  a  badger.  Broch,  in  Gaelic 
or  Irish,  Cor.  Br.  and  Welsh,  has  the  same  meaning. 

BROCKLESBY.  Local.  Derived  from  BrocJdes,  a  small  town 
of  that  name  in  England,  and  hy,  near  to ;  a  village.  Dutch, 
Broch,  a  marsh ;  also,  broken  land. 

In  a  party  in  which  the  celebrated  Porson  was  a  guest,  there 
was  also  a  physician  by  this  name,  Dr.  Brocklesby,  a  de- 
scendant of  the  eminent  man  who  attended  Dr.  Johnson  in 
his  last  illness.  In  addressing  Dr.  Brocklesby,  Porson  called 
him  Dr.  Rock — "Yes,  Dr.  Rock — no,  Dr.  Rock,"  etc. — a 
name  rendered  almost  infamous  by  Hogarth,  in  his  picture 
of  the  "  March  of  the  Guards."  At  length.  Dr.  Brocklesby 
became  offended,  and  said,  "  Mr.  Porson,  my  name  is  not 
Rock,  it  is  Brocklesby,"  pronouncing  the  syllables  distinctly, 
Brock-les-by.  "  Well,"  said  Porson,  "  if  Broch-les-h  is  not 
Rock,  then  I  know  nothing  of  Algebra. 

BRODIE.  (Gaelic.)  Local.  From  the  lands  of  Brodie,  Co. 
Moray,  Scotland.  The  name  signifies  a  Httle  ridge;  a  brow; 
a  precipice.    Brody,  a  town  of  GaUicia. 

BRODT.  Local.  So  named  from  a  town  in  Sclavonia,  settled 
by  an  ancient  people  who  came  from  Scythia. 

BROME  or  BROOME.  The  Earls  of  Anjou  first  took  the  sur- 
name of  Brome  or  Broome  after  their  pilgrimage  to  the 
Holy  Land.  Fulke,  Earl  of  Anjou,  having  worn  a  sprig  of 
the  broom-plant  as  the  symbol  of  humility. 

BROMFIELD  or  BROOMFIELD.  Local.  The  field  abound- 
ing in  broom. 

BROMLEY.  Local.  From  Bromley,  a  small  town  in  England, 
so  called  from  brome  or  broom,  and  ley,  a  field  or  common. 

BROOME.     The  same  as  Brome,  above. 

BRONSON,  BRUNSOK  A  contraction  of  Brownson,  the 
son  of  Brown.  Briaunson,  local,  a  place  in  France.  This 
name  came  into  England  with  William  the  Conqueror. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  83 

BROOKS.  Local.  Brooks,  Becks,  and  Rundels  are  names  for 
small  rivers. 

BROSTER.     (Cor,  Br.)     Greatness,  majesty. 

BROTHERSON.     The  same  as  nephew. 

BROUGHAM.  Local.  Originally  Burgham,  The  village  on 
a  hill ;  a  borough  town.     The  name  of  a  place  in  England. 

BROUGHTOK  Local.  A  town  on  the  hill;  a  village  in 
Flintshire,  England. 

BROWER,     (Dutch.)     From  Brouwer^  a  brewer. 

BROWN.  A  name  derived  from  complexion,  color  of  hair  or 
garments,  consequently,  a  very  common  name. 

BROWNSOK     The  son  of  Brown. 

BRUCE.      (Nor.   Fr.)     Local      De  Bruys ;    from    Bray  or  ^ 
Bruys,  a  place  in  Normandy  where  the  family  originated. 
De  Bruys  was  one  of  the  followers  of  WiUiam  the  Con- 
queror, and  fought  at  the  battle  of  Hastings.     From  this 
ancestor,  King  Robert  Bruce  was  descended. 

BRUNNER.   Local,   From  a  town  of  that  name  in  Switzerland. 

BRUX.     Local.     A  town  in  England. 

BRUYERE.  (Fr.)  Local.  A  common  or  heath  covered  with 
shrubs. 

BRYAN.     The  same  as  Brian  or  Brien  (which  see). 

BRYN.     (Welsh.)     A  mountain ;  a  mountaineer. 

BRYCE.  (Welsh.)  A  contraction  of  Ap  Rhys,  the  son  of 
Rhys  or  Rhees.     (See  Rhees.) 

BRYNE.  Local.  A  river  in  Donegal,  Ireland ;  in  Welsh,  a 
hill.     Bryne^  Saxon,  a  burning. 

BUCHAN.  Local.  A  district  of  Aberdeenshire,  Scotland. 
The  derivation  of  the  name  is  uncertain.  It  may  be  from 
the  Gaelic  hoc^  hocan,  deer ;  a  place  abounding  in  deer. 

BUCHANAN.  Local.  A  parish  in  the  shire  of  SterHng,  Scot- 
land. The  derivation  of  the  name  is  uncertain.  It  is  prob- 
ably from  the  same  root  as  Bv-chan. 


84  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

BUCHER.  (Fr.)  Pronounced  Booshay.  A  wood-house ;  pile 
of  wood;  pyre;  faneral-pile. 

BUCK.  Such  names  as  Lyon,  Bull,  Buck,  etc.,  may  have  been 
borrowed  from  armorial  bearings,  the  shields  and  banners  of 
war,  or  for  a  resemblance  to  those  animals  noted  for  cour- 
age, agiUty,  or  swiftness,  or  from  signs  and  emblems  over 
shops  and  inns. 

BUCKBEE.  Local.  The  town  or  village  among  the  beech- 
trees,  from  hoc,  a  beech-tree,  and  by,  a  village. 

BUCKHOUT.  (Dutch.)  Local.  The  beech-wood;  from 
beuk,  a  beech,  and  lioudt,  a  wood. 

BUCKINGHAM.  (Sax.)  Local.  A  shire  and  town  in  Eng- 
land, and  so  called  either  from  Biicen,  beechen,  and  Tiam,  a 
village,  from  the  abundance  of  beech-trees  grow-ing  there,  or 
from  the  Saxon  hucca,  deer — the  deer-vUlage. 

BUCKLIN.  (Graelic.)  Local.  From  Bucklyn^  a  town  in 
Sterlingsliire,  Scotland.  The  name  may  be  derived  from 
Boc,  plural,  BuiCj  a  roe-buck,  deer,  and  linne,  a  pool  or  lake. 

BUCKM ASTER.  A  name,  probably  given  to  one  who  had 
the  care  of  herds  of  venison. 

BUCKMrN"STER.  (Sax.)  From  lucm,  beechen,  or  lugan^  to 
bend,  a  bow,  a  comer,  round ;  and  minster,  a  church,  a  mon- 
astery. 

BUCKSTON  or  BUXTOK  (Sax.)  Local.  From  hoc,  a 
beech-tree,  and  ton,  a  town — ^beech-town. 

BUDD.  (Welsh.)  Thrift,  gain,  riches,  victory ;  hod,  a  dwell- 
ing. Bud,  in  the  Danish,  signifies  a  messenger,  courier,  a 
sergeant. 

BUDDINGTOK  Local.  The  flourishing  town,  or  Bodding- 
ton,  the  dwelling  town.  Buttington,  a  place  on  the  Severn, 
England,  which  may  indicate  the  town  on  the  limit,  bound- 
ary, or  extremity. 

BUEL.  (Welsh.)  A  herd  of  cattle;  an  ox.  Biidl,  local,  a 
place  in  France. 


OF   FAMILT   NAMES.  85 

BULKELEY  or  BUCKLEY.  Local.  Derived  from  the  manor 
of  Bulkeley,  in  the  County  Palatine  of  Chester,  England.  A 
corruption  of  BuMocTc-ley^  the  bullock-field  or  pasture. 

BULL.  A  well-known  animal,  powerful,  fierce,  and  violent. 
The  name  may  have  originated  from  the  sign  of  a  shop  or 
inn,  as  "  John  at  the  Bull."  Biil^  in  Saxon,  is  a  brooch,  a 
stud,  a  bracelet. 

BULLARD.     Having  the  disposition  of  a  bull. 

BULLER.     (Danish.)     Bohr,  a  gallant ;  an  amorist. 

BULLOCK.  A  fuU-grown  ox.  All  the  families  of  Bulls,  Bul- 
lards,  and  Bullocks  are  noted  for  being  firm  and  inflexible  in 
their  way. 

BULLIONS.  Probably  local,  from  BoUeyne^  a  town  in  France, 
whence  the  family  of  Anne  Boleyne  took  their  name ;  or 
fi'om  the  city  of  Boulogne^  which  was  so  called  from  Beul, 
Gaelic,  the  mouth,  and  Liane^  the  river,  or  the  ^^  mouth  of 
Lkme^''  it  being  situated  at  the  mouth  of  that  river. 

BUN.     (Gaelic.)    A  foundation ;  Bunn^  a  hill. 

BUNNELL.  Local.  A  corruption  of  BonMU,  a  parish  in  the 
county  of  Dumbarton,  Scotland. 

BUNTING.    A  kind  of  bird. 

BUNYAN.  (Welsh,  Celtic,  and  Gaelic.)  Erom  Bunan,  a 
squat,  short  person. 

BURR.  (Saxon.)  Burli,  a  wall,  a  fortress,  a  castle ;  a  hill,  a 
heap,  the  same  as  burgh. 

BURBECK.  Local.  The  beak  or  point  of  the  hill;  from 
Burh^  a  hill,  and  hek,  Dutch,  a  point,  a  beak ;  or  from  Burhj 
a  hni,  castle,  fort,  or  dwelling,  and  hech,  a  brook. 

BURBY.  (Saxon.)  The  house  or  village  on  the  hill ;  from 
Bur,  a  liill,  and  hy,  a  house  or  village. 

BURD.    Local.     A  river  in  France. 


86  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

BUEDEN.  Lower  says  this  name  is  probably  a  corruption  of 
bourdon^  a  pilgrim's  staff, — a  very  appropriate  sign  for  a 
wayside  hostelry. 

It  may  be  local,  derived  from  Bour^  a  house  (from  the  Saxon 
hure^  a  bed-chamber),  and  den^  a  valley — the  house  in  the 
valley. 

BURDER,     A  bird-catcher  or  fowler. 

BURDETT.     A  Utile  bird,  ett  signifying  young,  small,  tender. 

BURG.  In  all  tlie  Teutonic  languages  signifies  a  hill,  a  fortifi- 
cation, tower,  castle,  house,  city,  and  nearly  so  in  the 
Armoric  and  Welsh. 

BURGESS.  An  inhabitant  of  a  borough ;  a  freeman,  citizen ; 
a  representative  of  a  borough  in  parhament. 

BURGOS.  Local  A  city  of  Spain,  in  Old  Castile,  situated 
beside  a  liiU,  on  the  river  Arlanzon. 

BURGOYNE.  Local  From  Bourgogne,  now  Burgundy,  an 
old  province  of  France.  A  name  given  to  a  native  of  that 
province. 

BURKE.  A  corruption  of  {De)  Burgo,  as  the  name  was  for- 
merly written,  that  is,  from  the  fort,  castle,  hill,  or  city. 
Tliis  family  went  from  Normandy  into  England  with  the 
Conqueror,  and  afterward  into  Ireland  with  Strongbow. 

BURLASE.     (Cor.  Br.)     Local     The  green  summit  or  top, 

BURLEIGH.  Local  Burh,  Saxon,  is  the  same  as  burg,  a 
city,  castle,  house,  or  tower ;  in  composition,  it  signifies  de- 
fense; leighj  a  low  place,  opposed  to  a  place  higher,  the 
same  as  ley,  a  meadow,  a  pasture.  Burly,  swelled,  bulky, 
boisterous. 

BURNHAM.  Local  Derived  from  Burnham,  a  town  in  Nor- 
folk, also  in  Essex,  England ;  in  the  old  EngHsh,  Bourn  or 
Burn,  signifies  a  river,  and  ham,  a  village  or  town — the  vil- 
lage by  the  river.  Bourn,  burn,  and  bern,  in  the  Cornish- 
British,  is  a  hill,  a  heap ;  and  Burnham,  the  house  or  town 
on  the  rising  ground. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  87' 

BURN'S.      Local.     A  hum,  in  Scotland,  is  a  small  stream,  the 
.  same  as  Bourne.     Biorn,  in  the  Danish  and  Swedish,  signi- 
fies a  bear,  figuratively,  a  ferocious,  vaUant  man. 

BURNSIDE.     Local.     Beside  the  brook  or  burn. 

BURRAED.  Local.  A  high  hill  or  top.  Boorard,  resembling 
a  countryman;  Boer,  Dutch,  a  rustic,  a  farmer,  and  ardj 
nature,  mode,  kind. 

BURRELL.  Borel  is  used  by  Chaucer  in  the  sense  of  lay,  as 
horel-clerks — ^lay-clerks.  It  may  be  a  corruption  of  Borrail 
(which  see). 

BURT.  (G-aeUc.)  Burt,  quizzing,  joking ;  also,  in  Enghsh,  a 
kind  of  fish.  Buurt,  Dutch,  a  hamlet,  consisting  only  of  a 
few  houses ;  a  neighborhood. 

BURTIS.     (Welsh.)     Bwrdais,  a  burgess. 

BURTOK  Local.  A  town  in  Leicestershire,  En^and.  The 
name  signifies  either  the  town  on  the  hUl,  or,  as  Bailey  says, 
the  Bur-town,  from  the  abundance  of  burs  growing  there- 
abouts.    There  are  several  places  by  this  name  in  England. 

BUSHNELL.  (Dutch.)  Bossen-haU,  a  faggot  or  wood-mar- 
ket, or  a  hall  or  mansion  in  the  wood. 

BUSHWELL.  Local.  Bushwild.  From  hush  and  well,  vnldy 
wold,  a  wood,  a  lawn,  or  plain ;  an  uncultivated  bushy 
place  ;  Bushfeldt,  the  bushy  field. 

BUSK.     (Swed.)     From  Busche,  a  wood,  a  thicket. 

BUSKIRK.  (Dutch.)  Local.  From  Bos,  a  wood,  and  leerk, 
a  church — the  church  in  the  wood. 

BUSSEY.  (Fr.)  Local.  From  the  town  of  Bussey,  in  the 
province  of  Burgundy,  France. 

BUTLER.  This  family  derive  theh  origin  from  the  old  Counts 
of  Briony  or  Biony,  in  Normandy,  a  descendant  of  whom, 
Herveius  Fitz  Walter,  accompanied  the  Conqueror  into 
England.  His  son,  Theobold,  went  with  Henry  IL  into 
Ireland,  where,  having  greatly  assisted  in  the  reduction  of 


88  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

the  kingdom,  he  was  rewarded  with  large  possessions  there, 
and  made  it  the  place  of  his  residence.  The  king  afterward 
conferred  on  him  the  oQioe  of  chief  Butler  of  Ireland,  whence 
his  descendants,  the  Earls  of  Ormond  and  others,  took  the 
surname  of  De  Boteler  or  Butler. 

BUTMAN.  Local.  Perhaps  the  man  who  lives  at  the  hutt  or 
boundary;  a  marksman.  Botman,  one  who  gives  a  blunt 
answer. 

BUTTS.  Butts  were  marks  for  archery.  In  most  parishes 
places  were  set  apart  for  this  necessary  sport  which  were 
called  "  the  Butts," — Whence,  the  name  was  given  to  a  person 
residing  near  such  a  spot,  as  "John  at  the  Butts."  But 
signifies  a  promontory,  as  the  Butt  of  Lewis,  an  isle  of 
Scotland.     Danish,  But,  blunt,  rough. 

BUXTON.  Local.  From  the  Saxon  hoc,  a  beech,  G-erman, 
huche,  and  ton — the  beech-town.  A  village  in  Derbyshire^ 
England. 

BYPIELD.  The  viUage  in  the  field,  from  By,  Danish,  a  town, 
— or  the  place  by  or  near  the  field. 

BYGtBY.     (Danish.)     Barley-town;  from  byg,  Danish,  barley. 

BYING-TOK  (Saxon.)  From  Bying,  a  habitation,  and  ton,  a 
hill  or  inclosure. 

BYRON".  (Ft.)  Local.  Originally  De  Biron,  from  the  town 
of  Biron,  in  the  province  of  Gruienne,  France. 

CAD.     (Qaelic  and  Welsh.)     War,  a  battle-field. 

CADE.     An  old  word  for  a  barrel  or  cask;    probably  taken 

from  a  sign  at  an  ale-house  or  tavern — ^^John  at  the  Cade." 

Shakspeare.uses  Cade  in  this  sense : 

"Cade. — ^We,  John  Cade,  so  termed  of  our  supposed  father. 
Dick. — Or  rather  of  stealing  a  cade  of  herrings  1" 

Hen.  YI.,  Act  IY.,  Sc.  H. 

CADOaAN.  (Welsh.)  Terrible  in  battle;  fi-om  cad,  battle, 
and  gwg,  fierce. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  89 

CADELL.     (Welsh.)     WaiHke.     Gaelic,  Cathdl 

CADER,     (Welsh.)     A  keep,  fortress,  or  strong-hold. 

OADWALLADER.  (Welsh.)  Derived  from  cad,  battle,  and 
gvxdadr,  a  leader,  a  lord — ^the  leader  or  lord  of  the  battle. 
Gwaladr  would  seem  to  come  from  gwdl,  a  wall  or  defense^ 
and  adre,  signifying  at  home  or  abroad,  everywhere. 

CAD  WELL.      Local.      A  village  in  South  Wales;    written 

Cydwell. 

CADY.  Ca-dia,  in  Gaelic,  the  house  of  God.  There  is  a  com- 
monalty of  Switzerland  called  Gotthespunt,  or  Casdee,  i.  e.. 
the  house  of  God.  Cadie,  in  the  Scottish,  is  an  errand-boy^ 
a  messenger. 

CAETH.     (Welsh.)     A  captive. 

CAIN.     (Welsh  and  Gaelic.)     Chaste,  beloved,  fair,  beautiful. 

CAIRN.     (Cor.  Br.)     Local.     A  circular  mound  of  stones. 

CALDER.  Local.  A  river  in  Yorkshire,  England.  Calduor^ 
Gaelic  and  Welsh,  the  water  that  incloses  or  shuts  in. 

CALDERWOOD.     Local.     The  wood  on  the  river  Calder. 

CALDICOTT,  COLDICOT,  and  CALDECOTE.  Local. 
(Welsh.)  Ool-dow-cwU,  Oolcoit,  the  neck  of  the  wood. 
O'Connor  derives  Caldecott  from  Cald-i-scoi,  the  inclosure 
of  the  Scot ;  a  locality  hemmed  in  by  Glamorgan,  the  Wye, 
and  high  lands  on  the  north.  A  village  in  Hertfordshire, 
England. 

CALDWELL.  Local.  Col-ivold,  the  wood  of  hazels;  or  it 
may  be  Cold-well,  a  cold  spring. 

CALHOUN.     A  corruption  of  Colquhoun  (which  see). 

CALL.  (Welsh.)  Prudent,  discerning,  cunning,  trickish 
Caill  and  Cuil,  Gaelic,  are  the  same. 

CALLAGHAN.  (Gaehc  or  Celtic.)  From  Ciallach,  prudent, 
judicious,  discreet. 


90  ETYMOLOOICAL    DICTIONARY 

CAMERON.  (Graelic.)  From  Carrie  crooked,  and  sron^  nose, 
crooked  or  hooked-nose. 

CAMPBELL.  (Celtic  and  Caelic.)  Wry-mouth,  the  man 
whose  mouth  inclined  a  httle  on  one  side;  from  cam^ 
crooked,  distorted,  and  heul^  the  mouth.  This  ancient 
family  may  be  traced  as  far  back  as  the  beginning  of  the 
fifth  century,  and  is  said  to  have  been  possessed  of  Lochore, 
in  Argyleshire,  as  early  as  the  time  of  Fergus  II.  Sir  Colin 
Campbell,  of  Lochore,  flourished  toward  the  end  of  the 
thirteenth  century,  and  was  called  Sir  Colin  More,  or  Colin 
the  Great  His  descendants  were  called  by  the  Irish 
Mc  Calleriy  tliat  is,  the  descendants  of  CoHn. 

CAM.  (G-aelic  and  Welsh.)  Crooked,  winding;  injury,  deceit^ 
injustice. 

CAMUS.  (Graelic)  A  bay,  a  creek,  a  harbor.  Camoys,  one 
whose  nose  is  turned  upwards. 

CAN  or  CAIN.  (G-aelic.)  Clear,  white,  fair,  and  hence,  be- 
loved, dear ;  can^  a  lake,  a  whelp- 

CANN.  (Gaehc.)  Ceann  and  Kin;  Welsh,  Ken  or  Cen,  the 
head;  projection. 

CANNING.  (Saxon.)  Cyning,  a  leader,  a  king.  Germ., 
KOnig  ;  Butch,  Koning  ;  J)a.n.,  Konge;  Swedish,  Konung  ; 
Welsh,  cun;  Irish,  cean,  which  is  tiie  same  as  the  Gaelic 
Ceann,  and  the  oriental  Khan  or  Kaun,  all  signifying  head, 
a  leader.  Saxon  Connan  and  Cunnan,  to  see,  to  know; 
hence  Cunning,  or  Canning,  Kenning. 

CANON.  (Welsh.)  The  river  Taf  is  called  in  the  interior  the 
Canon,  or  the  singing  river.  A  rule,  a  law ;  a  dignitary  of 
the  church- 

CAPEL.     An  old  word  signifying  a  strong  horse. 

"  And  gave  him  caples  to  his  carte." 

Chaucer. 
Capel,  Danish,  an  oratory,  a  chapel 


OF    FAMILY   NAMES.  '  91. 

CARACTACUS.  (Gaelic.)  From  Caer,  a  castle  or  city; 
eacht,  an  exploit,  and  cios,  a  tribute,  expressive  of  his  abil- 
ities in  conducting  an  offensive,  as  well  as  a  defensive  war ; 
or,  as  O'Connor  derives  it,  from  Cathreacteac-eis,  the  leader 
of  the  host  in  battle. 

CARD.  A  word  used  in  some  parts  of  Scotland  to  denote  a 
travehng  tinker.     Ceairde,  G-aehc,  a  tradesman. 

GARDEN.  Local.  Assumed  from  the  manor  of  Cawarden  or 
Carden,  near  Chester,  in  England. 

CAREW.  (Welsh.)  Derived  from  the  castle  of  Carrw,  in 
Wales.  The  castle  by  the  water,  from  Caer,  castle  or  fort, 
and  ew,  water. 

CAREY  or  CARY.  Local.  From  the  manor  of  Cary  or  Kari, 
as  spelled  in  the  Doomsday  Book,  in  the  parish  of  St.  Giles, 
near  Launceston,  England.  Cary,  in  the  British,  signifies 
beloved,  dear.     This  name  may  be  the  same  as  Carew. 

CARMICHAEL.  Local.  Assumed  from  the  lands  and  barony 
of  Carmichael,  in  the  shire  of  Lanark.  The  castle  or  strong- 
hold of  Michael,  from  mer,  a  castle  or  fortified  place. 

CARNE  and  CARNES.  (Welsh.)  Local.  A  rock,  a  heap 
of  stones.  This  family  claim  descent  from  Ithel,  King  of 
Ghent,  now  Monmouthshire.  Thomas  o'r  Gare,  youngest 
son  of  Ithel,  King  of  Ghent,  was  brought  up  at  one  of  his 
father's  seats  called  Pencarne  (from  pen,  the  head,  and  carne, 
a  rock,  a  heap  of  stones),  whence  he  was  named  Came, 
which  continues  the  surname  of  the  family. 

CARNIGAN.  In  the  Gaelic,  Carneach  signifies  a  Druid  or 
priest,  and  Carnahan,  rocky  or  stony  ground. 

CARR.  This  name  has  several  significations;  Caer,  Cornish- 
British,  a  city,  town,  a  fort,  a  castle ;  Carre,  French,  a  stout, 
broad-shouldered  man ;    Cawr,  Welsh,  a  giant. 

CARTER.  A  name  of  trade,  one  who  drives  a  cart.  CairteaVj 
Gaehc,  a  tourist,  a  sojourner. 


92  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

CARSON  or  CORSON.  The  son  of  Car;  Ourson,  the  stock 
of  a  vine. 

CARTERET  or  CARTRET.  (Gaelic  and  Welsh.)  Local.  The 
place  or  town  of  the  castle. 

CAR  WIN.  (Cor.  Br.)  Local.  The  white  castle;  from  cmr^ 
a  castle,  and  win  or  gwin^  white. 

CARY.     The  same  as  Garey  (which  see). 

CASE.  (French.)  Gase.  A  hut,  a  hovel ;  Caelic,  cass^  caise, 
steep ;  quick,  hasty,  passionate. 

CASS.  (G-aelic.)  Cos,  a  verb,  to  turn  against,  to  thwart, 
oppose ;  a  difficulty,  a  trying  situation,  a  cause.  Gas,  a 
castle,  the  primary  sense  is  to  separate,  drive  off,  or  hate ; 
the  radical  sense  of  hatred  is  driving  off. 

CASSIDY.  (Gaelic.)  From  casaideach,  apt  to  complain  or 
accuse.     Gasadow,  in  the  Cor.  Br.,  signifies  an  offender. 

CATHCART.  (Gaelic.)  Local.  From  the  parish  of  Cathcart, 
in  Lanark  and  Renfrew,  Scotland.  The  river  Cart  runs 
through  it,  whence  the  name  is  derived.  Gaeih-  Cart,  from 
caetJi,  a  strait,  the  river  here  running  in  a  narrow  channel 

CATHERWOOD.  (Gaelic.)  Local.  A  fenny-wood,  wet 
ground,  from  Gathar,  soft,  boggy  ground ;  or  the  fortified 
place  in  a  wood,  from  Gathair,  Gaelic,  a  town,  a  fortified 
city,  a  guard,  a  sentinel. 

CAVAN.     (Welsh  and  Gaelic.)     Local.     The  ridge  of  a  hilL 

CAW.  Local.  Gaelic,  Ga,  a  house,  a  place  fortified,  inclosed, 
surrounded.  Gaw,  Welsh,  whatever  defends  or  keeps 
together ;  Gawr,  an  old  English  word  for  a  king.  Gaw  or 
Gu,  an  ancient  king  of  North  Britain  whose  capital  was 
Dumbarton. 

OAXTON.  Local.  Derived  from  Caxton,  a  small  town  in 
England. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  93 

CAY.  Kea^  in  the  Cornish-British  and  Welsh,  is  an  inclosure  ; 
that  which  fastens  or  secures;  a  landing  for  vessels;  French, 
quai;  Dutch,  haai ;  Gaelic,  ceithe. 

CAYLY.  Local.  From  Calais^  a  sea-port  of  France;  Cola, 
Gaelic,  a  harbor,  port,  haven,  bay,  a  road  for  ships. 

CHAD  WICK.  Local.  The  cottage  by  the  harbor,  or  sheltered 
place ;  from  the  Saxon  Cyte  and  wick;  Oyte  signifies  a  cot- 
tage, and  wicJc,  a  harbor,  a  sheltered  place.  It  may  be  so 
called  from  the  shad  fisheries. 

CHAFFEE.  (Fr.)  Chafe^  to  heat,  to  grow  warm  or  angry; 
Fr.,  chauffer,  to  warm,  to  cannonade,  attack  briskly. 

CHALK.  A  well-known  earth ;  a  locahty.  Chalk,  Saxon,  a 
servant  or  attendant. 

CHALLIS.  A  cup  or  bowl ;  taken  perhaps  from  the  sign  of  a 
house  or  shop. 

CHALLONER.  Local.  Derived  from  a  town  in  France  of  the 
same  name.  This  family  derive  their  origin  from  Macloy 
Crum,  of  the  fine  of  chiefs  in  Wales,  who  resided  several 
years  in  Challoner. 

CHALMERS  or  CHAMBERS.  One  of  the  clan  Cameron  of 
Scotland,  going  to  France,  put  his  name  in  a  Latin  dress,  as 
was  customary  in  those  times,  styhng  himself  De  Cameraria, 
which  was  called  in  French,  De  la  Chamhre,  and  upon  his 
return  to  Scotland,  he  was  again,  according  to  their  dialect, 
called  Chambers.     Chalmers  is  a  corruption  of  the  same. 

CHAMPE.     (Fr.)     Local.     From  champ,  a  field. 

CHAMPION.  A  soldier,  one  that  fought  in  pubhc  combat  in 
his  own  or  another  man's  quan-el. 

CHAMPLIX  or  CHAMPLAIK  The  same  as  champaign,  a 
flat,  open  country;  from  Champ,  an  open,  level  field  or 
plain,  and  lean,  a  meadow ;  laine,  Gaehc,  full ;  leaihanrij 
wide ;  Cor.  Br.,  laun ;  Welsh,  Uann,  full,  wide. 

CHAMPNEY.'  (Fr.)  Local.  From  Champ,  a  field,  and  ey, 
water — the  wet  country  or  country  near  the  water. 


94  ETYMOLOaiCAL   DICTIONARY 

CHANDLER.  A  name  of  trade ;  a  maker  and  seller  of  various 
wares,  originally  of  candles. 

CHANNINGr.  (Saxon.)  Cyrdng,  knowing,  wise;  Dutch, 
Koning,  whence  king  j  the  same  derivation  as  Canning. 

CHAPEL.  Local.  A  private  oratory ;  a  place  of  public  wor- 
ship. 

CHAPIN.     A  corruption  of  Chapman ;  a  trader,  a  shopman. 

CHAPMAN.  The  same  as  Chipman,  a  trader,  a  shopman; 
from  the  Saxon  ceapan  or  cypan,  to  buy  or  sell.  Sax.,  ceap^ 
a  bargain,  a  price ;  one  who  cheapens,  asks  the  price,  buys. 

CHARLES.  (G-er.)  From  carl,  strong,  stout,  courageous,  and 
valiant.  The  Hungarians  called  a  king  by  the  general  name 
Carl,  and  Scaliger  makes  Carl-man  the  same  as  the  Greek 
dvdpiac. 

CHARNOCK.  (Nor.  Fr.)  Local.  Derived  from  the  town  of 
Chernoc,  in  Normandy. 

CHATHAM  or  CHETHAM.  Local  From  a  town  in  Kent, 
England,  on  the  Medway,  so  named  from  the  Saxon  cyte,  a 
cottage,  and  ham,  a  village,  signifying  the  village  of  cottages. 
A  paragraph  to  the  following  effect  went  the  round  of  the 
papers  not  many  years  since : 

Two  attorneys  in  partnership  had  the  name  of  the  jBrm, 
"Catcham  and  Chetum,"  inscribed,  in  the  usual  manner, 
upon  their  office-door ;  but  as  the  singularity  and  ominous 
juxta-position  of  the  words  led  to  many  a  coarse  joke  from 
passers-by,  the  men  of  law  attempted  to  destroy,  in  part, 
the  eflfect  of  the  odd  association,  by  the  insertion  of  the 
initials  of  their  Christian  names,  which  happened  to  be 
Isaiah  and  Uriah ;  but  this  made  the  affair  ten  times  worse, 
for  the  inscription  then  ran : 

"  /.  Catcham  and  TJ.  Chetum  r 

OHATSEY  or  CHADSEY.  Local  From  the  Saxon  cyU,  a 
cottage,  and  sey,  near  the  water. 


OF    FAMILY   NAMES.  00 

CHATSWOETH.  Local,  Derived  from  a  viUage  of  that  name 
in  Derbyshire,  England,  and  signifying  the  cottage-farm; 
from  cyte,  a  cottage,  as  above,  and  wcyrth,  a  place  or  estate. 

CHATTERTON.  Local.  Chadderton^  Saxon,  cete-doir-ton, 
the  cottage-town  in  the  wood ;  from  cete  or  cyte,  a  cottage, 
hut,  cabin;  doir^  a  wood,  and  torij  a  town. 

CHEDSEY.  Local.  From  Chertsey^  a  town  in  Surrey,  Eng- 
land, near  the  Thames,  pronounced  by  the  natives,  Chedsey, 
meaning  "  Cerot's  Island." 

CHEESEMAN.    A  dealer  in  cheese. 

CHEEVER.  (Fr.)  Chevir  signifies  to  master  or  overcome ; 
and  Chevre  is  a  goat. 

CHENEY.  (Fr.)  Local.  From  Chene,  an  oak;  Chenaie,  a 
grove,  a  plantation  of  oaks. 

CHESEBROUGH.  Local.  The  cheese-borough  or  town. 
Chessbro,  the  hill  or  town  on  the  river  Chess. 

CHESTER.  Local.  From  the  city  of  Chester,  the  capital  of 
Cheshire,  England,  founded  by  the  Romans.  The  name  is 
derived  from  the  Latin  Castrum;  Saxon,  ceaster,  a  fortified 
place,  a  city,  a  castle  or  camp,  it  being  a  Roman  station 
where  the  twentieth  legion  was  quartered.  The  Roman 
stations  in  England  were  generally  so  called,  being  sometimes 
varied  in  dialect  to  Chester,  Chaster,  or  Caster,  the  termina- 
tion of  many  EngUsh  towns,  as  Colchester,  the  camp  on  the 
river  Coin ;  Doncaster,  on  the  Don ;  Lancaster,  on  the  Lon 
or  Lune,  etc. 

CHICHESTER.  Local.  From  the  city  of  Chichester,  Sussex, 
England,  whose  Saxon  name  was  Cissanceaster ;  from  Cissaj 
the  son  of  Aella,  who  settled  the  kingdom  of  the  South- 
Saxons  ;  and  ceaster  or  Chester,  a  city,  from  castrum,  a  Roman 
station. 

CHICKERINQ.  (Cor.  Br.)  Local.  The  stone  house,  a  house 
on  a  rock,  a  fortress ;  from  chi,  a  house,  and  cairne,  a  rock 
or  stones. 


96  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIQNARy 

CHILDS.  Child,  Page  and  Varlet  were  names  given  to  youths 
from  seven  to  fourteen  years  of  age,  while  receiving  their 
education  for  knighthood, 

CHILTON.  Local  From  a  town  of  the  same  name  in  Wilt- 
shire, England,  signifying  the  chalk-hills;  from  the  Saxon 
cylt^  clay  or  chalk. 

CHIPMAN.     A  trader.     (See  Chapman.) 

GHITTENDEK  (Cor.  Br.  and  Welsh.)  The  lower  house  on 
the  rising  or  fortified  ground ;  from  Chy-tane-din —  Chy,  a 
house,  tane,  lower,  and  din  or  dun,  a  hiE. 

CHOLMONDELEY.  (Norman.)  Local  The  place  at  the 
gorge  or  neck  of  the  mountain ;  from  Col,  a  strait  or  defile, 
and  mond  or  mont,  a  hill.  This  name  is  pronounced  Chum- 
ley.  An  English  gentleman  meeting  the  Earl  of  Cholmon- 
deley  one  day  coming  out  of  his  own  house,  and  not  being 
acquainted  with  him,  asked  him  if  Lord  Chol-mond-e-ley 
(pronouncing  each  syllable  distinctly)  was  at  home.  "  No," 
repHed  the  peer,  without  hesitation,  "  nor  any  of  his  pe-o- 
ple." 

CHUBB.  From  the  Saxon  cob,  a  great-headed,  full-cheeked 
fellow.  The  fish  called  chulih  was  so  named  from  its  having 
a  large  head. 

CHUECH.  Local  A  house  of  Christian  worship,  derived 
from  the  old  Enghsh  chirch,  and  Scottish  Kirh,  Latin  circus, 
and  this  from  the  Gaehc  cearcal,  h.  temple,  a  round  building. 
The  root  of  Church  is  from  the  GraeHc  car,  roundness,  from 
which  we  have  cirhe  or  hirhe. 

CILLY.     Local     A  town  in  Cermany. 

CLAGET.  (Ger.)  From  Jdugheif,  good  sense,  wisdom,  pru- 
dence, dexterity.     The  Danish  klegt  signifies  the  same. 

CLAPP.  (Cor.  Br.)  Full  of  chat,  tonguey ;  from  the  Cornish- 
British  clap,  prating, 

CLARE.  (Fr.)  Clair^  from  the  Latin  Clarus,  pure,  re- 
nowned, illustrious. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  9T 

CLARK.     Clerk,  a  clergyman,  a  scholar,  one  who  can  read  and 

write. 

CLAUSON.  Local.  A  town  of  Germany,  near  Pozen;  de- 
rived from  Maicse,  a  mountain  defile. 

CLAVERINGr.  Local.  First  assumed  by  the  proprietors  of 
the  barony  of  Clavering,  in  Essex,  England,  near  the  spring- 
head of  the  river  Tort.  Derived  from  the  Anglo-Saxon 
dcefer,  or  Belgic  Jdaver,  both  denoting  clover;  and  ing^  a 
meadow,  a  pasture — the  clover-fields. 

CLAY.  Local,  A  town  of  France  in  Seine.  A  lake  on  the 
isle  of  Lewis,  Scotland.  Clee,  hills  in  Wales.  Cle,  left- 
handed,  a  place  lying  to  the  left,  in  relation  to  another  place. 
Cledh,  chid,  and  cladd,  in  the  GaeHc,  Welsh,  and  British, 
signify  a  ditch,  a  trench,  a  wall;  cladh,  a  church-yard; 
cledd,  Welsh,  a  sword;  GaeHc,  claiheamh,  from  which  we 
have  G  lay  more,  a  large  sword.  The  same  word  in  Welsh 
and  Gaehc  that  signifies  a  river  is  often  applied  to  a  sword, 
from  their  resemblance  in  ghttering  brightness. 

CLAYTOR     Local.     The  clay-hill. 

CLEARY  or  CLERY.  From  the  Gaelic  Oleireach,  a  clerk,  a 
clergyman,  a  writer.  A  noted  family  of  historians  whose 
estates  were  in  the  county  of  Donnegal,  Ireland. 

CLEAVER.  English,  one  who  cleaves ;  a  dweller  on  a  cleave 
or  cliff. 

CLEMENT.     From  the  Latin  Clemens,  mild,  meek,  gentle. 

CLEVELAND.  Local.  Derived  from  a  place  by  that  name 
in  Yorkshire,  England;  a  corruption  of  Cliff-lane,  and  so 
called  from  its  being  steep  and  almost  impassable  with  cliffs 
and  rocks. 

CLIFF,  Local.  A  steep  bank,  a  precipice ;  a  town  in  North- 
amptonshire, England. 

CLIFFORD,     Local.     The  ford  or  way  by  the  cliff. 

5 


98  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

CLIFTON.  Local  A  small  village  in  England ;  the  town  on 
the  cliff. 

CLrCTG.     (Danish.)    EJinge^  a  blade,  a  sword. 

CLING-MAN.     (Danish.)     A  swordsman,  fencer,  fighter. 

CLINTON.  (Dano-Norman.)  Local.  Klint,  a  promontory, 
brow  of  a  hill,  cape ;  and  ton,  a  town.  Colonel  Charles 
Clinton,  the  progenitor  of  the  distinguished  family  of  CHn- 
ton,  and  his  associate  emigrants  from  Ireland,  settled,  in  1722, 
in  "  Little  Britain,"  Orange  Comity,  New  York. 

CLOSSON.  (Dutch.)  The  son  of  Klaas,  the  abbreviation  of 
Nicholas  among  the  Dutch.  Klaas-son,  the  son  of  Nicholas. 
So  Santa  Klaas  for  St.  Nicholas. 

CLOUGH.  (Anglo-Saxon.)  Local  A  small  valley  between 
hills,  a  breach ;  from  the  past  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  participle 
cleqfian,  to  cleave,  divide. 

CLOWES.  (Anglo-Saxon.)  Local.  A  cUff  or  cleft  in  a  hiU; 
from  Clough,  as  above. 

CLUM.  Local  A  place  in  Germany,  the  ancient  residence  of 
the  Knight  of  Clum,  the  fi:iend  of  John  Huss. 

CLUTE.  lauii,  Dutch,  a  lamp;  "hij  heeft  kluiten,"  he  has  got 
the  chink,  he  is  rich. 

COATES.    Local     The  side,  the  shore,  coast,  border. 

COBERN.  Local.  A  town  in  Germany;  the  high  or  united 
hill. 

COBB.  Local.  A  harbor;  as  the  Cobb  of  Lyme-Regis, 
County  Dorset,  England. 

COCHRAN.  Local  Cocrinn^  Gaehc,  a  point  or  promontory 
in  open  sight ;  from  Coe,  manifest,  plain,  and  Www,  a  cape  or 
promontory. 

COCKBURN.  Local.  The  brook  by  the  hillock ;  from  coch^  a 
luUock,  and  &wm,  a  brook. 


OF    FAMILY   NAMES.  ftOf 

COE.  The  primitive  word  Co  is  an  elevation,  exalted.  Ko\  in 
the  Coptic,  is  a  rock;  hoh^  Persic,  a  hill;  Coey,  Graehc,  a 
hero,  literally,  a  dog.  Lower  says  that  Coe  is  a  Norfolk 
provinciahsm  to  designate  "  an  odd  old  fellow." 

COOEY.  Gaelic,  Cu-maighe,  figuratively,  the  hero  or  swift 
warrior ;  literally,  the  "  dog  of  the  plain.^^ 

COEYMAN.  (Dutch.)  The  cow-man;  from  hoey,  a  cow. 
Kooimarij  a  man  who  decoys  ducks. 

COFFIN.  Local.  Cyffin,  in  Welsh,  signifies  a  boundary,  a 
limit,  a  hiU;  cefyn^  the  ridge  of  a  hill.  This  name  has  its 
origin  from  Co,  high,  exalted,  and  fin,  a  head,  extremity, 
boundary.  This  family  settled  early  in  this  country,  on  the 
sland  of  Nantucket,  near  Cape  Cod,  where  the  name  is 
very  common.  The  following  humorous  lines,  descriptive  of 
the  characteristics  of  the  different  famiUes  residing  on  that 
island,  were  written  by  one  Daniel  AUen,  a  native  of  the 
island,  more  than  a  hundred  years  ago : 

"  The  hasty  Coffin,  fi-actious,  loud, 
The  silent  Gardiner,  plotting, 
The  Mitchells  good,  the  Barkers  proud, 
The  Macys  eat  the  pudding ; 
The  Rays  and  Evssels  coopers  are, 
The  knowing  Folger  lazy, 
A  learned  Coleman  very  rare, 
And  scarce  an  honest  Hiossey." 

COaaESHALL  or  COGSWELL.  Local.  Derived  from  the 
town  of  Coggeshall,  in  Essex,  England ;  Cog,  a  small  boat, 
and  shoal,  a  place  where  the  water  is  shallow,  and  where 
fish  abound,  a  fishhig-place. 

COHEN.     (Heb.)     A  bishop  or  priest. 

COIT.     Local.     A  wood. 

COLBERN.  Colbrin,  Welsh,  the  hazel-hiU;  fi-om  Coll  (plural), 
hazel,  and  hryn,  a  hill. 


100  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

COLBURN.  (Oor.  Br.)  The  dry  well,  or  the  well  on  the 
neck  of  the  hill. 

COLBY.  Local.  Kolbye,  a  town  in  Denmark ;  Col^  with  or 
near,  the  "  &?/"  o^"  town. 

COLE.  An  abbreviation  of  Nicholas,  common  among  the 
Dutch. 

COLEMAN  and  COLMAN.  A  dealer  or  workman  in  coals. 
Gaelic,  Colman,  a  dove. 

COLLAMORE.  Local.  From  Ooulommier,  a  town  in  France. 
This  family  originally  came  into  England  with  William  the 
Conqueror.  Colmar,  Graelic,  a  brave  man;  CoJlmor,  the 
great  wood. 

COLLEY.  Local.  CoU-lle,  in  Welsh,  denotes  the  place  of 
hazel;  Cil-lle,  the  place  on  the  back  or  neck  of  the  hill; 
from  cil  or  coZ,  the  back  or  neck.     CoiUe,  Gaehc,  a  wood. 

COLLIER.  A  name  of  occupation,  a  dealer  or  workman  in 
coals. 

COLLINE.     (Fr.)    Local.    A  hill  that  rises  by  degrees. 

COLLINS.  (Gaelic.)  From  Cuihin,  darhng,  a  term  of  en- 
dearment applied  to  young  animals,  as  Catulus,  in  Latin. 
In  the  Welsh,  Collen  signifies  hazel — a  hazel-grove. 

COLQUITE  or  COLQUOIT.  Local.  From  col,  the  neck,  and 
coit,  a  wood.  Col,  in  the  Cor.  Br.,  signifies  the  neck  of  a 
hill,  a  promontory. 

COLQUHOUN  and  CALHOUN.  According  to  tradition,  the 
progenitor  of  this  family  was  a  younger  son  of  Conach, 
King  of  Ireland,  who  came  to  Scotiand  in  the  reign  of 
Gregory  the  Great,  and  obtained  lands  in  Dumbartonshire, 
to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Conachon,  corrupted  into 
Colquhoun.  I  am  incHned  to  think  the  name  is  from  the 
Gaelic,  denoting  one  who  is  brave,  lively,  quick,  and  furious 
in  battle;  fi-om  Colg,  and  chuoin,  the  genitive  of  Cu,  a 
hound,  a  war-dog. 

COLSON.     The  son  of  Col  or  Cole  (which  see). 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  101 

COLT.  A  name  given  to  one  of  a  sportive  disposition,  or  may 
be  taken  from  the  sign  of  an  inn.     "  Will  at  the  Colt." 

COLTON.  Local.  The  town  at  the  neck  of  the  hill,  from  Co\ 
the  neck  of  a  hill,  and  ton^  a  town.  Caltuinn^  Gaelic, 
hazel. 

COLVER.  From  the  Dutch  Jcoher,  one  who  plays  at  Jcolf,  a 
favorite  game  in  Holland. 

COLVILLE.  (French.)  Local.  From  Col,  a  neck,  strait,  or 
defile ;  a  pass  between  hills ;  and  ville,  a  town,  the  place  in 
the  gorge  or  pass  of  the  dell. 

COLYEN  and  COLVIN.  Local.  From  Colvend,  a  tovm  in 
Kircudbrightshire,  Scotland,  the  ancient  name  of  which  was 
Culwen,  derived  from  Joannes  De  Culwen. 

COL  WELL  or  COLVILLE.  The  village  on-  the  neck  of  the 
hill,  or  near  the  hazel-wood ;  Col,  Gaelic,  hazel ;  and  viUe,  a 
village,  changed  into  well.  ColdweU  denotes  the  quality  of 
the  water,  a  cold  spring ;  Colwold,  the  hazel- wild,  or  bushy 
place  of  hazels. 

COLY.     Local.     A  little  river  in  Devonshire,  England. 

COMEYN,  or  DE  COMINGES,  as  it  was  anciently  written ; 
from  Cominges,  a  town  in  France,  anciently  called  Lug- 
dunum  Convenarum,  situated  on  a  hill  near  the  banks  of  the 
river  Garonne,  so  named  because  people  of  diverse  countries 
assembled  together  to  dwell  in  that  place.  Comeyne  or 
De  Cominges  went  into  England  with  William  the  Con- 
queror. 

CONANT,  (Welsh  and  Gaelic.)  Conan,  a  river.  Counant, 
a  cataract  in  North  Wales,  from  cau,  a  chasm,  a  deep  hol- 
low, shut  up,  and  nant,  a  rivulet. 

COMSTOCK.  (Dutch.)  From  horn,  a  dock  or  harbor,  and 
stock,  a  stick  or  timber — the  wharf  or  dock  of  timber. 

CONK  (Gaelic.)  Strength,  according  to  O'Donovan;  it  is 
also  the  genitive  plural  of  cu,  a  dog.  Cond,  signifies  pro- 
tecting, keeping. 


102  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTION  ART 

CONDE.  May  be  a  local  name  from  the  town  of  Conde,  in  the 
French  part  of  Hainault,  which  gave  its  name  to  a  branch 
of  the  royal  family  of  France,  the  Princes  of  Conde.  Kun- 
dig  or  Jcundy,  Dutch,  signifies  knowing,  skillful,  expert. 

CONDER.  Conders  were  persons  stationed  upon  high  places 
near  the  sea  coast  to  watch  the  shoals  for  fishermen,  at  the 
time  of  herring-fishing.  The  name  is  derived  from  the 
French  conduire,  to  conduct. 

CONE.  (Heb.)  A  bishop  or  priest;  Jcom,  in  the  Dutch,  sig- 
nifies bold,  daring,  intrepid. 

CONKLIN.  (Dutch.)  From  Con,  bold,  wise,  knowing,  and 
klein,  Uttle  or  son,  *.  e.,  the  son  of  Con.  Konkelen,  in  Dutch, 
signifies  to  plot,  intrigue,  conspire.  Ceangleann,  Gaelic,  the 
head  of  the  valley. 

CONNELL  or  CONNELLY.  (Celtic  and  aaelic.)  From 
conalj  love,  friendship. 

CONNOR  or  CONOR.  (Celtic  and  Gaelic.)  From  Oonchohar, 
the  chief  of  men,  powerful  among  men,  a  leader.  O'Dono- 
van  derives  this  name  from  Conn,  strength,  and  cobhair^  aid, 
assistance.     Con-na-fir^  the  head  of  men, 

CONRAD.     (Ger.)     Able  counsel 

CONRY.  Local.  "Gauir  ConrigTi,'^  a  high  mountain  near 
Tralee,  County  of  Kerry,  Ireland. 

CONSTABLE.  A  name  of  office.  Roger  de  Lacey  first 
assumed  this  surname  from  being  constable  of  Chester,  in 
England.     A  commander  of  the  cavalry. 

CONTIN.  Local.  From  Contin,  9,  parish  in  Rosshire,  Scot- 
land, derived  from  the  Gaelic  Con-tuinn,  signifying  the 
meeting  of  the  waters,  alluding  to  the  forking  of  the  river 
Rasay,  which  here  form  an  island. 

CONWAY.  (Br.  and  Celtic.)  Local.  From  a  river  of  that 
name  in  Wales,  which  issues  from  a  lake  in  Merionethshire, 
and  flows  through  a  fertile  vale  of  the  same  name,  and 
enters  the  Irish  Sea,  at  Aberconway;  from  Con^  head, 
chief,  and  wy^  a  river. 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  108 

CONYERS.  Local.  From  CoignierSj  in  Normandy,  their 
ancient  residence;  came  into  England  with  William  the 
Conqueror. 

COOEY  or  COE.  (Gaelic.)  A  hero;  literaUy,  the  dog  of  the 
glain,  from  cw,  a  dog,  and  magh,  a  plain.  The  names  of 
various  animals  were  given  anciently  to  heroes,  to  denote 
power,  swiftness,  or  courage. 

COOKE.  One  whose  occupation  it  is  to  prepare  victuals  for 
the  table. 

COOKSOK  The  son  of  Cook;  originally  from  Settle,  in 
Yorkshire. 

COOMBS.  (Cor.  Br.)  A  place  between  hills,  a  valley ;  in  the 
Welsh,  Cwm. 

COONS-  Dutch,  Koen,  bold,  daring,  audacious.  Coon,  Saxon, 
bold, 

COOPER.  A  name  of  occupation  or  trade.  The  name  is  also 
local,  from  Cupar ^  a  town  in  Fifeshire,  Scotland,  which  is 
derived  from  Cu-pyre^  the  inclosed  fire,  or  Co,  high,  a  beacon 
fire,  or  signal  on  the  coast  for  ships.  Pyre,  a  beacon  fire,  on 
a  high  place,  is  the  origin  of  the  word  pier,  a  wharf  or  land- 
ing-place for  ships;  Danish,  pyr  and  fyr^  a  lantern;  irvp, 
Greek,  a  fire ;  the  whole  landing-place  in  time  was  called 
the  pier. 

COORTAK     (Anglo-Saxon.)     A  band  of  soldiers. 

COOTE.  Local.  Welsh,  Coed,  a  wood;  Cor.  Br.,  Coit  and 
Cut.     Coot-hill  or  Coit-hayle,  the  wood  on  the  river. 

COPP.     (Sax.)     Local     A  hilL 

CORBET  or  CORBIE.     (Fr.)     A  raven. 

CORBIN.  Local  The  name  of  a  place  in  Glencreran,  Scot- 
land, signifying  a  steep  hill,  from  the  Gaelic  Cor-beann  or 
Cor-beinn. 

CORDLAN.    Welsh,  Corddlan,  a  hamlet,  same  as  Cortlan. 


104  ETYMOLOGICAL    DIOTIONARY 

CORKIN.  (GaeHc.)  Local.  The  head  of  the  dale;  from 
coire^  a  dell,  a  circular  hollow,  and  ceann^  the  head. 

CORMAC.  (Celtic.)  The  son  of  the  chariot ;  first  given,  it  ia 
said,  to  a  prince  of  Leinster  who  happened  to  be  born  in  a 
chariot,  while  his  mother  was  going  on  a  journey. 

CORNELIUS.  From  the  Latin  cornu^  a  horn  (Greek,  /cepaf) ; 
and  ^Aiof,  the  sun — ^the  horn  of  the  sun. 

CORNELL.  In  the  British  it  signifies  a  comer,  a  place  shaped 
hke  a  horn  (from  the  Latin  cornv).  CorneiUe^.  in  the 
French,  signifies  a  crow. 

CORNING.  Local  Welsh,  cornyn,  a  small  horn,  or  the 
place  of  winding  or  turning. 

CORNISH.  Local.  Belonging  to  Cornwall,  indicating  the 
place  from  which  the  family  came. 

CORNWALLIS.  Local.  A  native  of  Cornwall ;  Cornwall  is 
derived  from  cornu,  a  horn;  Welsh,  corn  and  Galivys,  the 
Gauls,  the  ancient  people  of  France ;  a  term  indicating  the 
circular  form  of  the  coast.  O'Connor  derives  Cornwall  from 
carna,  altars,  and  Gael,  i.  e.,  the  altars  of  the  Gael. 

CORRIE.  Local.  A  town  in'  the  Isle  of  Arran,  Scotland. 
Coire,  Gaelic,  a  circular  hollow  surrounded  with  hills;  a 
mountain  delL 

COR  WIN.  (Cor.  Br.)  Local.  The  white  castle ;  from  caeTj  a 
castle,  and  win  or  gwin,  white ;  or  the  white  choir. 

CORSE.  (Welsh.)  A  fen,  a  wet  meadow.  Carse,  Armorio 
and  Gaehc,  a  level  tract  of  fertile  land. 

CORY.  Carrey,  local,  a  town  in  Scotland.  The  word  conveys 
the  idea  of  roundness,  bending,  turning,  the  winding  of  a 
stream.  Gaelic,  car;  Welsh,  cor,  a  circle,  a  dell,  a  glen; 
caire,  a  circular  hollow  surrounded  by  hills. 

COSTAR  or  COSTER.  (Dutch.)  From  Foster,  a  sexton ;  also, 
a  cunning,  sly  fellow. 


OP    FAMILY    NAMES.  105 

COTTRELL.     A  cottage,  or  a  cottager. 

COTESWORTH.  Local  The  estate  or  place  in  the  wood ; 
from  coit,  a  wood,  and  worth,  a  place  or  possession.  If  from 
the  French  cote,  the  sea-shore,  the  estate  on  the  shore. 

COTTON.  This  name  afifords  several  derivations.  Local, 
Welsh,  Coedton,  the  woody  hill ;  Coiton,  Cuiton,  Cor.  Br. ; 
Qwtton,  Welsh,  the  cottage  hiU.  Cotden,  Saxon,  the  cot  in 
the  valley ;   Qwthen,  Welsh,  the  ancient  cottage  or  dwelling. 

COURT.  A  place  inclosed,  protected,  cut  off;  that  which  ex- 
cludes access.  Saxon,  curt;  Arm.,  court;  Pr.,  cour ;  G-aelic, 
cuairt,  a  circle ;  Welsh,  cor  and  cwr,  a  circle. 

OOURTLANDT.  (Dutch.)  Local.  From  Tcort,  short,  Httle, 
and  land  or  landt,  from  the  short  or  narrow  land,  properly 
Van  Courtlandt. 

COURTEN'AY.  Local.  A  town  of  France  which  stands  on  a 
hill  on  the  banks  of  the  small  river  Clairy,  about  fifty-six 
miles  south  of  Paris.  This  small  town  has  imparted  its 
name  to  several  princes,  whose  actions  are  celebrated  in 
French  history.  The  name  signifies  "  The  court  near  the 
water." 

COVERT.     Local.     A  sheltered  place. 

COVENTRY.  Local.  A  city  in  Warwickshire,  England; 
from  Coven,  a  convent,  and  tre,  British,  a  town — the  town 
of  the  convent ;  Welsh,  ^^  Cy faint-trey 

COWAN.  (G-aelic.)  Gohhainn,  a  smith;  Gowan,  a  Scottish 
word  for  a  wild  flower. 

COWDRAY  or  COULDRAY.    Local.     The  grove  of  hazels. 

COWLEY.    Local.     The  cow-pasture. 

COX.  Coch,  Httle — a  term  of  endearment,  a  diminutive,  the 
same  as  ot  or  Mn,  used  as  a  termination,  as  Wilhox,  httle 
Will ;  Simcox,  httle  Sim,  etc.  The  word  is  also  often  Used 
to  denote  a  leader  or  chief  man.  Addison  says:  "Sir 
Andrew  is  the  code  of  the  club." 


106  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

COWLES.     A  monk's  hood  or  habit. 

CRADOCK.  A  corruption  of  the  old  British  name  Garadoc, 
which  is  said  to  signify  "  dearly  beloved." 

CRAIG-.  (Cor.  Br.  and  Welsh.)  A  rock,  a  crag,  a  stone; 
Gaelic,  carraig,  a  rock,  creag,  a  rock. 

CRAM.     (G-erman.)     From  kram,  a  retail  shop. 

CRAMER.     (Q-erman.)    From  kramer,  a  retail  dealer. 

CRANDELL.-  (Welsh.)  Local.  From  kren,  round,  or  cran, 
wood ;  and  dal,  or  dol,  a  vale — the  round  or  w"oody  vale. 
Orandal,  in  Irish,  signifies  the  woody  vale. 

CRANSTON  or  CRANSTOUK  Local.  The  town  of  (7mw5, 
a  Danish  leader  who  invaded  England ;  a  parish  in  Edin- 
burgshire,  Scotland. 

CRAPO.     (Fr.)    From  crapaiid,  a  toad,  an  ugly  man. 

CRAVEN.  One  who  begs  for  his  life  when  conquered ;  fi-om 
crave,  a  word  used  formerly  by  one  vanquished  in  trial  by 
battle,  and  yielding  to  the  conqueror.  Craven  is  also  the 
name  of  a  place  in  Yorkshire,  England,  very  stony,  derived 
from  craig,  Cor.  Br.,  a  rock,  and  pen,  a  head. 

CRAWFORD,  Local.  First  assumed  by  the  proprietor  of  the 
lands  and  barony  of  Crawford,  in  Lanarkshire,  Scotland. 
The  extreme  ancestor  of  the  ancient  family  of  Crawford,  in 
Scotland,  was  Reginald,  youngest  son  of  Alan,  the  fourth 
Earl  of  Richmond.  He  seems  to  have  accompanied  David 
the  First  to  the  north,  and  to  have  received  extensive  grants 
of  land  in  Strath  Cluyd,  or  Clydesdale,  whence  his  imme- 
diate descendants  adopted  the  name  of  Crawford,  then  form- 
ing one  of  the  largest  baronies  in  Scotland,  and  signifying  in 
G-aeUc  ^^ The  pass  of  blood,"  from  cru,  bloody,  anad  ford,  a  pass 
or  way,  as  commemorative,  probably,  of  some  sanguinary 
conflict  between  the  Aborigines  and  the  Roman  invaders. 
'The  name  has  been  derived  by  others  from  crodh  8.nd  port, 
pronounced  cro-fort,  signifying  "  a  sheltering  place  for 
cattle." 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES. 


107 


CRAYFORD.  Local  A  town  on  the  river  Cray,  in  Kent^ 
England.     The  ford  over  the  Cray. 

CRESSY.     Local,     From  a  town  in  France  by  that  name. 

CRICHTOlsr.  In  the  Gaelic,  criochton  signifies  a  boundary  hill, 
end,  limit,  landmark ;  creachton,  the  hill  or  castle  of  plunder, 
or  the  ruined,  pillaged  place. 

CRIGrAN".     The  same  as  Crogan ;  creagan^  Q-aelic,  a  little  rock. 

CRITTENDEN.  (Cor.  Br.  and  WelsL)  Local.  The  cot  on 
the  lower  hill ;  from  cru^  a  cot;  tone,  lower,  and  dun  or  din, 
a  hill ;  or  it  may  be  the  chalk  hUl,  from  hrit,  Saxon,  chalk. 

CROCKER.  A  maker  of  coarse  pottery.  The  word  crock  sig- 
nified a  large  barrel-shaped  jar.  Chaucer  says :  "  Spurn  not 
as  doth  a  croche  against  a  waL" 

CROCKET.     Kroget,  Danish,  crooked,  bowed,  bent. 

CROFT.     Local.    A  town  of  the  same  name  in  England ;  a 
^      small  field  near  a  dwelling. 

CROGtAN.  (G-aeUc.)  A  lean  httle  person ;  Hterally,  a  shell,  a 
pitcher,  fi-om  hrogan;  Crogan,  a  castle  in  North  Wales. 
It  may  signify  a  little  rock. 

CROMWELL.  (Br.)  Local.  From  crom,  crooked,  and  hal  or 
hayle,  low,  level  land  bordering  on  the  river  or  sea.  Low- 
lands on  the  bend  of  a  river. 

CRONAN.     (Gaelic.)     A  mournful  tune  or  murmuring  sound. 

CRONKHITE.     (Ger.)    From  Jerankheit,  sickly,  rickety. 

CROOKSHANKS.     A  name  descriptive  of  bodily  peculiarity. 

CROSIER.  A  bishop's  stafij  with  a  cross  on  the  top  in  the 
form  of  a  crutch  or  T.     A  sign  over  a  shop. 

CROSS.  Local.  A  place  where  a  cross  was  erected,  or  where 
two  ways,  roads,  or  streets  intersected  each  other. 

CROSSWELL.  Local.  A  cross  erected  near  a  well.  John  at 
the  Cross-well  became  John  Crosswell. 


108  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

OROTHERS  and  CROWTHER.  (Welsh.)  A  harper,  a  musi- 
cian ;  from  crwthj  a  harp,  a  Scandinavian  fiddle.    Gaelic,  cruit 

CROUCH.     A  cross ;  from  the  Latin  crux. 

CROUNSE.  Dutch,  kruin,  the  top  or  crown ;  Jcrans^  a  wreath 
or  garland ;  Krantz,  local,  a  town  in  the  Duchy  of  Bremen 
from  which  the  family  may  have  come. 

CROWELL.     Local.     From  a  town  in  England  by  that  name. 

CUDNEY.  (Br.)  From  Cud  or  Coit,  a  wood,  and  ey,  water 
— the  wood  near  the  water.    ■ 

CITDWORTH.  From  Cud  or  Coit,  a  wood,  and  worth,  a 
place,  a  dwelling — the  farm  or  dwelling  in  the  wood. 

CULLEN.     Local.     From  the  town  of  Cullen,  in  Banffshire, 

,  Scotland.     The  derivation  is  uncertain.     It  may  be  from 

Cuillean,  holly,  a  place  of  holly-trees;  or  CulUn,  the  place 

at  the  neck -of  the  lake,  from  Cul,  a  neck,  the  back  of  any 

thing,  and  ?m,  a  lake,  a  pond. 

CULBERT.     (aaelic.)     From  Culbheart,  craft,  cunning. 

CULBERTSON.     The  son  of  Culbert. 

CULVER.     A  pigeon,  a  dove. 

CUMMINGrS.  Local.  A  corruption  of  Comeyn,  anciently 
^v^itten  De  Comminges ;  from  Comminges,  a  place  in 
France,  whence  they  came.     (See  Comeyn.) 

CUNNINGHAM.  Local.  A  district  in  Ayrsliire,  Scotland. 
The  name  signifies  the  dwelling  of  the  chief  or  king,  from 
the  Saxon,  cyning,  Dutch,  honing,  a  leader  or  chief,  and  ham, 
a  house  or  town. 

CUPAR.  Local.  A  borough  in  Fifeshire,  Scotland ;  the  in- 
closed or  fortified  hiU,  from  Cu,  GaeUc,  inclosed,  and  har,  a 
top,  a  hill.     Cu,  a  hero,  a  chief — the  chiefs  hill  or  fortress. 

CURTIS.  An  abbreviation  of  courteous.  It  may  be  from 
Curthose,  a  name  given  for  wearing  short  hose,  as  the  name 
Curtmantle  was  given  to  Henry  the  Second  of  England,- 
fi'om  his  introducing  the  fashion  of  wearing  shorter  mantles 
than  had  been  previously  used. 


mmmmmmmm 


♦  OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  109 

CUEE.  (Dutch.)  From  Keur,  an  elector ;  as  Keursaxen,  the 
elector  of  Saxony. 

CUSICK.  Kessoch,  a  town  near  the  Moray  Frith,  Scotland ; 
casach,  Gaelic,  an  ascent  going  up  by  steps.  Casag^  in 
GaeHc,  signifies  a  long  coat  or  cassock^  formerly  a  cloak  or 
gown  worn  by  the  clergy  over  the  other  garments.  The 
name  may  be  local,  from  the  place,  or  from  the  pecuhar  dress 
worn  by  the  individual. 

CUTTEEr.  A  boat ;  a  name  probably  taken  from  the  sign  of 
an  inn,  as  "  John  at  the  Cutter."  Coutier,  French,  a  weaver 
or  seller  of  ticking. 

CUTTEN'G-.  (Saxon.)  CutJi,  well  known,  famous;  and  ing, 
equivalent  to  the  Latin  ens,  expressing  the  existence  of  the 
quahty  or  action  of  the  word  to  which  it  is  affixed;  or 
Cuthing,  the  son  of  Cuth.  Ing,  inge,  or  inger,  in  most  of 
the  Teutonic  languages,  denotes  offspring,  a  descendant. 

CUYLER.  (G-er.)  From  Keiler,  a  wild  boar ;  iBguratively,  a 
powerful  man. 

CYNOAD  or  KINCADD.  (Welsh.)  The  front  of  the  battle. 
In  Gaelic,  Oeanncath,  the  chief  or  commander  of  the  battle ; 
from  Ceann,  the  head,  commander,  or  chief,  and  cath  or  cad, 
battle,  war. 


DABNEY.     (Nor.  Fr.)     Local.     A  corruption  of  D' Aubigne ; 

from  Aubigne,  a  town  in  the  department  of  Cher,  France. 
DAG.     (Dutch.)     The  same  as  Day — the  time  between  the 

rising  and  setting  sun;  a  dagger,  a  hand-gun,  a  pistol;  a 

sign  over  a  shop  or  inn. 
DAGGETT.     Local.      Probably  a  corruption  of  Dowgate,  a 

place  in  London,  so  called  from  dow,  British,  water — the 

water-gate. 
DALE,  DELL,  or  DEAL.    Nearly  synonymous ;  a  bushy  vale; 

low  ground,  with  ground  ascending  around  it. 


110  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTION JTRY 

DALLAS.     (Welsh.)    Erom  Beallus,  knowing,  skillful 

DALRY.  (G-aelic.)  Local.  A  parish  in  Ayrshire,  Scotland; 
derived  from  Bal,  a  valley,  and  righ,  a  king — the  valley  of 
the  king. 

DALRYMPLE.  Local  Taken  from  the  lands  and  barony  of 
Dalrymple,  in  Ayrshire,  Scotland.  The  name  is  said  to  be  a 
corruption  of  the  Gaehc  Dale-roi-milleadh,  which  signifies 
"  the  valley  of  the  slaughter  of  kings,"  and  the  place  was  so 
called  from  a  battle  fought  there  before  the  Cliristian  era,  in 
which  two  kings,  Fergus  and  Coilus,  were  slain.  According 
to  others,  it  signifies  "  the  valley  of  the  crooked  pool"  I 
think  the  name  signifies  "  the  valley  on  the  margin  of  the 
,  pool,"  from  the  Welsh  Dol,  a  valley ;  rJiim,  the  edge  or  bor- 
der, and  pwllj  a  pool  It  is  very  nearly  the  same  in  Gaelic ; 
Dail,  a  vale,  froimh,  by,  along  the  whole  extent,  and  poU,  a 
smaU  lake. 

DALTON.  Local  Lerived  from  the  town  of  Dalton,  in  Lan- 
cashire, England ;  a  corruption  of  Bale-ton,  the  town  in  the 
dale;  or  D' Alton,  abbreviated  to  Dalton,  that  is  from  the 
high  or  rocky  hill 

DALZIEL  or  DAL  YELL.  (Gaelic.)  Local.  Taken  from  the 
parish  of  Dalziel,  in  Lanarkshire,  Scotland.  The  parish  is 
said  to  have  received  its  name  from  the  old  parish  church 
which  stood  near  the  Clyde,  which  was  probably  so  called 
from  Dal,  a  dale  or  valley,  and  ciUe,  a  church — the  church 
in  the  valley.  There  is  the  following  tradition,  told  by 
Nisbet,  of  the  origin  of  the  name  : 

"A  favorite  of  Kenneth  11.  having  been  hanged  by  the  Picts, 
and  the  King  being  much  concerned  that  the  body  should 
be  exposed  in  so  disgraceful  a  situation,  offered  a  large 
reward  to  him  who  should  rescue  it.  This  being  an  enter- 
prise of  great  danger,  no  one  was  found  bold  enough  to 
undertake  it,  till  a  gentleman  came  to  the  king,  and  said, 
Dalziel,  that  is,  *  I  dare.'  In  memory  of  this  circumstance 
his  descendants  assumed  for  their  arms  a  man  hanging  on  a 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  Ill 

gallows,  and  the  motto  '  I  dare.'  "  The  Dakiels  afterward 
became  Earls  of  Oarnwath.  Unfortunately,  there  is  no  such 
word  as  Ddlziel  in  either  the  G-aelic  or  Celtic,  which  signifies 
"  I  dare."     The  name  is  local,  as  given  above. 

DAN.     (Gaelic.)     Bold,  daring,  intrepid. 

DANA.  (Celtic.)  From  Dana,  bold,  daring.  The  chosen 
successor  of  a  king,  among  the  Celts,  was  so  called ;  a  poet. 

DANFORTH  or  DANFORD.  Local.  A  place  in  England; 
the  way  or  ford  of  the  Danes. 

DANGAN.     (Celtic.)     Strong,  secure. 

DANGER.  A  corruption  of  VAngier,  that  is,  from  Angier,  a 
town  in  France.  Lower  says,  a  person  named  Danger  kept 
a  public  house  near  Cambridge  on  the  Huntingdon  road. 
On  being  compelled  to  quit  his  house,  he  built  an  inn  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  road,  and  placed  beneath  his  sign  '•''Ban- 
ger from  over  the  way,"  whereupon  his  successor  in  the  old 
hotel,  inscribed  over  }m  door,  "  There  is  no  Danger  here 
now." 

DANGERFIELD.  (Fr.)  A  corruption  of  UAngerviUe,  that 
is,  from  Angerville,  a  town  in  the  province  of  Orleans, 
France. 

DANIELS.  (Heb.)  Daniel  signifies,  the  judgment  of  Q^d,  the 
s  added,  being  a  contraction  of  son — the  son  of  Daniel. 

DANSEREATJ.     (French.)     A  dancer. 

DANVERS.  (Fr.)  Anciently  written  UAnvers  or  De  An- 
verso,  that  is,  from  the  town  of  Anvers,  in  France. 

DARBY.  Local.  A  corruption  of  Derby,  a  shire  of  England, 
so  called  from  doire,  a  forest,  a  woody,  hilly  country  abound- 
ing in  deer ;  or  it  may  be  Deerhy,  the  town  of  deer. 

DARLEY.  (Fr.)  A  corruption  of  UErle,  from  the  town  of 
Erie  in  France. 

DARLING.  A  name  of  endearment,  a  darling ;  ing,  denoting 
chUd,  progeny,  offspring. 


wmmmmmmmmimmfmm 


112  ETYMOLOGICAL    DICTIONARY 

DAEEELL.  (Nor.  Fr.)  A  corruption  of  De  OrreU,  so  called 
from  a  castle  and  family  of  Normandy. 

DAET.  Local.  A  river  in  England.  Duart,  a  town  in  Scot- 
land. 

DAE  WEST.  (Welsh.)  From  JDertoin,  an  oak ;  local,  Derwent, 
a  river  in  England. 

D'AUBIGNE.  (Fr.)  From  Auhigne,  a  tovrn  in  France,  in 
the  department  of  Cher. 

DAUBY.  A  corruption  of  De  Auhy  or  DAuby,  that  is,  from 
Auhy,  a  town  in  the  Netherlands,  near  the  borders  of 
France. 

r)AUCHY  or  DAUCHE.  A  Dutchman;  an  old  form  of  the 
word  Dutch  or  Dutcher,  a  name  given  in  France  to  an  emi- 
grant from  Holland. 

DAUTEY.  (Fr.)  A  corruption  of  De  Autry  or  DAutry,  that 
is,  from  Autry,  a  town  in  Champagne,  France. 

DAYENPOET.  Local.  Derived  from  the  town  of  Daven- 
port, in  Cheshire,  England,  so  called  from  the  river  Dan  or 
Daven  (which  name  signifies  a  river),  and  port,  a  haven  or 
harbor. 

DAVIDS.  (Heb.)  Beloved,  dear ;  the  s  added,  being  a  con- 
traction of  son. 

DAVIS.     A  corruption  of  Davids  ;  the  son  of  David. 

DAW.     (Welsh.)    A  son-in-law.     The  name  of  a  species  of 
birds. 

DAWES.     Local.     DAwes,  from  the  river,  fountain,  or  water. 

DAWNAY.  (Nor.  Fr.)  De  Aunay  or  DAunay,  from  the 
town  of  Aunay,  in  Normandy. 

DAWSON.  Said  to  be  a  corruption  of  the  Nor.  Fr.  D  Ossone, 
from  the  town  of  Ossone,  in  Normandy.  Camden,  how- 
ever, thinks  it  a  contraction  of  Davison,  the  son  of  David, 
which  is  the  more  probable  derivation. 


OP    FAMILY   NAMES*  113 

DAY.  The  Celtic  and  Gaelic  word  deag  or  dagh  signifies  good, 
excellent,  the  same  as  Z>a,  in  Welsh.  Camden  supposes  the 
name  to  be  a  contraction  of  David.  Dai^  Du^  in  the  Welsh, 
signifies  dark,  in  allusion  to  the  complexion  or  color  of  the 
hair.  Dhu^  in  Graelic,  the  same,  dark  color,  black.  Deah^ 
Anglo-Saxon,  dark,  obscure. 

DEACON.     A  servant  or  minister  in  the  church. 

DEALTRY  and  DATJTRY.  A  corruption  of  the  Latin  De  Alia 
Ripa,  from  the  high  bank  or  shore;  Radulphus  De  Alta 
Eipa,  Archdean  of  Colchester  died  at  the  siege  of  Acre  in 
the  Holy  Land,  during  the  Crusades. 

DEARBORN.     (Saxon.)     Bear-boren,  noble,  well-bom. 

DEARDEN.  Local.  A  corruption  of  Du-er-den,  as  stOl  pro- 
nounced by  the  natives  of  Lancashire,  England,  where 
branches  of  the  family  reside,  and  which  signifies,  "A 
thicket  of  wood  in  a  valley."     ^'Tfoir-den^ 

DECKIER.  From  the  German  Decker,  the  quantity  of  ten; 
probably  a  name  given  to  the  tenth  child.  It  may  be  one 
who  decks  or  covers  ships  or  vessels. 

DE  GRAFF.  (Dutch.)  Be  Graaf,  the  count  or  earl,  the  great 
man ;  de,  the,  and  graaff,  count. 

DE  GROOT.  (Dutch.)  The  great,  tall,  large  man;  or  if  local, 
fi:om  the  town  of  Groot,  in  Holland,  which  signifies  the 
great  or  large  place ;  from  de,  the,  and  groot,  great. 

DELAFIEDD.     (Fr.)     De  La  FieU—ivom  the  field. 

DELAFLOTE.  (Fr.)  ''  From  the  fleet"  or  ships.  It  is  said, 
that  not  long  since,  in  London,  a  certain  Mr.  Delafloat  had 
his  name  undergo  a  singular  mutation,  in  consequence  of  the 
indistinct  manner  in  which  his  name  was  announced.  The 
porter  understood  the  name  to  be  Helafioie,  and  so  pro- 
claimed it  to  the  groom  of  the  chambers,  and  the  luckless 
visitor — a  quiet,  shy,  reserved  young  man — ^was  actually 
ushered  into  the  midst  of  a  crowded  drawing-room,  by  the 
ominous  appellation  of  Mr.  Helafioat ! 


ill 


ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 


DELAMATER.  (Fr.)  "Ze  maitre;'  the  master,  overseer, 
landlord,  preceptor. 

DELANCY.  (Fr.)  Local.  De  La-ncy,  from  the  town  of 
Lancy,  in  the  province  of  Burgundy,  France. 

DELANY.    Anciently  O'Dulainy, 

DELAUNEY,  (Fr.)  Local  De  Launey,  from  Launey,  a 
town  in  the  province  of  Champagne,  France. 

DELMAE.     (Spanish.)     Z>eZ  ifare,  "  of  the  sea." 

DE  LORME.  (Fr.)  From  the  town  of  Lorme,  in  the  prov- 
ince of  Livernoi,  France. 

DELVEK  (Fr.)  De  Elven  or  UElven,  from  Elven,  a  town 
in  Brittany,  France. 

DE  MEER.     (Dutch.)    From  the  sea ;  the  same  as  DeTmar. 

DEMPSTER.  Anciently  an  arbitrator  or  ofl&cer  of  justice  in 
the  Scottish  courts. 

DENIO.  Local  Denia^  a  city  of  Valencia,  in  Spain;  De 
Noyon^  from  Noyon,  a  town  of  France. 

DENMAN.  A  denizen;  in  Welsh,  Dinman,  the  place  of  a 
fortress,  from  din,  a  fortress,  and  man,  a  place.  Denma/rij 
Saxon,  the  man  of  the  valley ;  a  dweller  in  the  vale. 

DENNIS  or  DENIS.  A  corruption  of  the  areek  name 
Dionysius,  which  is  derived  from  6log^  divine,  and  vdvg, 
mind.     Dinas^  Welsh,  a  fort,  a  stronghold. 

DENTON  or  DINTOK  (Sax.)  Local  A  town  in  the  county 
of  Buckingham,  England.  From  den,  a  valley,  and  ton,  a 
town. 

DERBY.  Local  From  Derhy,  in  England.  Deer-hy,  the 
town  or  county  abounding  in  deer.     (See  Darby.) 

Di)RINQ-.  (Saxon.)  From  Dearran  or  Darran,  to  dare,  bold, 
daring ;  a  name  given  to  an  old  Saxon  chieftain. 

DERMOD,  DIAEMAID,  DERMOND,  and  DERMOT.  (Celtic 
and  G-aelic.)  Signify  a  free  man,  one  having  amiable  qual- 
ities. 


OP    FAMILY    NAMES.  tH 

DESHOK     (Fr.)     Local.     Dijon,  a  town  in  France. 

DEVENISH.  Local.  Signifies  deep  water.  This  surname 
was  given  to  an  ancestor  of  the  family  who  was  early  settled 
at  the  confluence  of  the  rivers  Isis  and  Thames,  near  Oxford, 
England.     Dwfn,  Welsh,  deep;  uisge,  Gaelic,  water. 

DEYENPECK.  (Dutch.)  Local.  From  Biejpen,  deep,  and 
becJc,  a  brook — the  deep  brook. 

DEYEREUX.  (Fr.)  UEvereux,  from  Evereux,  a  town  in 
Normandy. 

DEYILLE.  (French.)  De  Ville,  from  the  village  or  town. 
Some  write  this  name  Devil/ 

DEVIN^E  or  DEVLN".     (Fr.)     A  soothsayer,  a  cunning  man. 

DEVLIN.  Local.  The  Norman  spelling  of  Dubhn.  In  the 
great  charter  of  King  John,  Henry,  Archbishop  of  Dublin,  is 
written  Henri  de  Diveline. 

DEWEES.     (Dutch.)     De,  the,  and  wees,  orphan — the  orphan. 

DEWEY.  Dewi,  in  the  Welsh,  is  a  contraction  or  rather  a 
corruption  of  David. 

DEWSBURY.     Local.     A  town  on  the  river  Calder,  England. 

DE  WILDE.  Local.  Wildau,  called  by  the  Germans  Die 
Wilde,  is  a  town  of  Poland,  situated  near  the  confluence  of 
the  rivers  Wilia  and  Wiln,  from  whence  its  name  is  derived. 
Wild,  a  wilderness. 

DEXTER.  A  contraction  of  De  Exeter,  from  the  city  of 
Exeter,  in  Devonshire,  England ;  anciently  written  Excester, 
from  Ex^,  the  name  of  the  river  on  which  it  is  situated,  and 
cester,  a  camp  or  town,  for  the  derivation  of  *which  see 
Cheste7\ 

DIBDIN.  (Welsh.)  Local.  From  Dib,  a  slope,  sloping 
ground,  and  din,  a  fortified  hill — the  fortress  on  the  slope  of 
the  hill. 

DIBIN.     (Welsh.)     Local.     A  clough,  a  cleft  in  a  hill ;  from 


116  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

DICK.  The  familiar  abbreviation  of  Richard.  It  may  come 
from  the  Dutch  Dyck^  a  bank  or  dike,  a  bulwark  thrown  up 
in  the  Low  Countries  against  the  sea  or  rivers  to  prevent  in- 
undation. 

DICKENS.    DicMngs,  the  son  of  Dick  or  Richard. 

DICKSOK     The  son  of  Dick  or  Richard. 

DIE.     Local.     A  town  in  the  province  of  Dauphiny,  France. 

DIEFENDORF.  (Qer.)  Local.  Derived  from  a  smaU  town 
of  that  name  in  Germany,  and  so  called  from  Die/en,  thiev- 
ing, and  dorf,  a  village — the  thieving  village. 

DIGBY.  Local.  From  Digby,  a  town  in  the  county  of  Lin- 
coln, England,  so  named  from  the  Danish  Dige,  a  dike,  ditch, 
or  trench,  and  by,  a  town — ^the  town  by  the  dike. 

DILLINGHAM.  (Saxon.)  Local  A  place  in  the  county  of 
Cambridge,  England ;  the  town  of  the  market ;  the  buying 
and  selling  place ;  of  paying  out  or  telling  money.  Saxon, 
Daelan,  to  divide,  separate,  throw  ofij  pay  over ;  and  ham,  a 
village. 

DILLON.  From  the  Welsh  DiUyn,  handsome,  gallant,  brave, 
fine. 

DIMOCK  or  DYMOCK.  (Welsh.)  A  corruption  of  Dm 
Madoc,  that  is,  David,  the  son  of  Madoc,  IHa  being  the 
diminutive  of  David  among  the  Welsh.  Madoc  is  derived 
from  mad,  good,  with  the  termination  oc  aflSxed,  which  has 
the  same  effect  as  our  English  termination  "  y." 

DINSMOR.  Local.  Dinas,  in  Welsh  and  Cor.  Br.,  is  a  fort, 
city,  or  walled  town,  and  mawr,  great,  large. 

DISNEY.  (Nor.  Fr.)  Anciently  written  Ulsney  or  DEisney, 
and  originally  De  Isigney,  from  Isigney,  a  small  village  near 
Bayeaux,  in  Normandy. 

DIX.  The  same  as  Dicks  or  Dickens,  the  s  being  a  contraction 
of  son — ^the  son  of  Dick  or  Richard. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  117 

DIXIE.  (Sax.)  .  Local.  From  the  Saxon  Die,  a  ditch,  dike, 
or  fosse,  and  ea,  water,  or  ig,  an  island. 

DOBBIN,   DOBBS,   and    DOBSOK      The  son  of   Dob   or 

Eobert. 

DOBNEY.     A  corruption  of  D'Aubigne  (which  see). 

DODD  or  DOD.  (Ger.)  A  god-father.  Dod,  in  Gaehc,  sig- 
nifies "the  pet;"  peevishness,  one  who  is  peevish. 

DODSOK     The  son  of  Dod. 

DODGrE.  To  evade  by  a  sudden  shift  of  place;  one  who 
evades,  or  quibbles. 

DOLBEER.  Local.  DoTbyr,  Welsh,  the  short  vale;  from  dol, 
a  dell,  a  vaUey,  and  hyr,  short.  Ddlbyr,  local,  a  town  in 
North  Jutland,  from  which  the  family  may  have  originated. 

D'OILY.  Local.  From  Oily,  a  place  in  France ;  the  same  as 
Doyle. 

DOLE.  Local  A  town  in  France;  DowyU,  Welsh,  shady, 
dark. 

DONALD,  DONELL,  or  DONELLY.  (GaeUc  and  Celtic.)  A 
great  man,  a  proud  chieftain,  from  DomhnuV,.  These  names 
appear  to  have  their  root  in  the  GaeUc  noun  Dion,  a  defense, 
shelter,  protection.  The  verb  Dion  signifies  to  defend,  to 
protect.  Dun  has  nearly  the  same  meaning,  a  heap,  a  hill, 
or  mount,  a  fortified  house  or  hill,  a  castle.  Surnames  com- 
pounded of  Dion,  Don,  or  Dun,  were  figuratively  used  to 
denote  persons  of  courage,  and  who  were  not  easUy  subdued. 

DONKIN.     The  same  as  Duncan  (which  see). 

DONNACH.     The  same  as  Duncan.     Diongnach,  Gaelic,  strong, 

fortified. 
DONOVAN.     (Celtic.)     The  brown-haired  chief;   from  Don- 

dubhan. 
DORAN.     The  son  of  Dorr.     Doran,  Gaelic,  an  otter ;  Doran, 

grief,  depression  of  spirits.     Dorran,  Gaelic,  vexation,  anger. 


118  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTEONARY 

DORLAN,  or  DOELAND,  (Dutch.)  Local  From  Dor,  ster- 
ile, barren,  and  land,  unproductive  soil. 

DORN.     (Dutch.)     A  thorn-tree. 

DORR,  This  name  may  have  several  significations,  according 
to  the  language  in  which  it  was  first  given.  Dorr,  Gaelic, 
difficult,  easily  vexed.  Dur,  GaeUc,  perseveriag,  earnest, 
obstinate.  Dorr,  Icelandic,  a  spear.  Dor,  Cor.  British,  the 
earth;  also  dorre,  to  break.  Doir,  local,  a  woody  place. 
Dar,  Welsh,  oak. 

DORSET.  Local.  A  county  in  England.  Dorsette,  Anglo- 
Saxon,  mountaineers. 

DOTY.     Welsh,  Diotty,  an  ale-house. 

DOUAY.  (Fr.)  Local.  Derived  fi:om  the  town  of  Douay,  in 
the  province  of  Artois,  France. 

DOUGALL.  (Gaelic  and  Celtic.)  The  black  stranger,  firom 
Dhu,  black,  and  gaU,  a  stranger,  a  term  used  by  the  Celts  to 
denote  a  Lowlander,  a  foreigner,  not  one  of  them.  The 
Danes,  Swedes,  and  Norwegians  were  called  by  the  Irish 
Fionne  Gael,  or  fair-haired,  and  the  Germans  "  Dubh  Gail," 
or  the  black  strangers. 

DOUGHTY.     Strong,  brave,  noble. 

DOUGLASS.  (Gaehc.)  Local.  The  dark  green  river,  from 
Dhu,  black,  dark,  and  glass,  green.  A  river  of  Scotland 
which  flows  into  the  Clyde.  A  town  of  Lanarkshire.  The 
tradition  of  the  origin  of  the  name  is  this :  in  the  year  770, 
a  man  of  rank  and  figure  came  seasonably  to  the  assistance 
of  Solvatius,  King  of  Scotland,  whose  territory  was  then 
invaded  by  Donald  Bain,  of  the  Western  Isles.  The  victory 
being  obtained,  the  King  was  desirous  to  see  the  man  who 
had  done  him  so  signal  a  service,  and  he  was  pointed  out  to 
him  in  these  words,  in  the  Gaelic,  "  Sholto  Dhuglass,"  "  be- 
hold that  dark,  or  swarthy,  man." 

DOUGREY.     (Gaelic.)     Dugharra,  stubborn. 


OF   FAMILY    VAMES.  Hft 

DOWNS.     A  term  applied,  in  England,  to  a  tract  of  poor, 

sandy,  hilly  land,  used  only  for  pasturing  sheep. 

DO  WELL.  (Welsh  and  aaelic.)  Dowyll,  Welsh,  shady,  dark. 
Ynis  Dowyll,  the  shady  island. 

DOYLE.     A  corruption  of  D'  Oily,  from  Oily,  a  city  in  France. 

DRAKE.  (GraeHc.)  Drak,  a  drake ;  drac,  a  route,  a  way,  a 
footstep ;  one  who  draws  or  leads,  a  leader. 

DRAIN.     (Gaelic.)     Droigheann,  a  thorn. 

DRAPER     One  who  sells  cloths. 

DRENNON.    Local.    Draenon,  Welsh,  a  thorn-tree  or  bush. 

DRISCOL.  (Celtic  and  Gaehc.)  Local.  From  dreas  and  coitl, 
a  tliicket  of  briars,  the  place  of  wild  roses. 

I)RIVER.  A  drover,  one  who  compels  or  urges  any  thing 
else  to  move. 

DROVER.    One  who  drives  cattle. 

DRUMMER.     One-  who,  in  military  exercises,  beats  the  drum. 

DRUMMOND.  (Gaehc.)  Local.  From  Druim,  the  back, 
and  monadh,  mountain,  a  name  of  place — the  back  of  the 
mountain. 

DRURY.    A  Jewel.     [Camden.] 

DRYDEN.  From  the  Welsh  Drwydwn,  broken  nose.  Ac- 
cording to  Evans,  Jonreth,  surnamed  Drwydwn,  the  father 
of  Llywelyn,  was  the  eldest  son  of  Owain  Groynedd,  but 
was  not  suffered  to  enjoy  his  right  on  account  of  that 
blemish. 

DUDLEY.  Local.  A  town  in  Worcestershire,  England,  so 
called  from  the  old  EngHsh  Dode-ley,  the  place  of  the  dead, 
a  burying-ground.  Dodelig,  in  the  Danish,  signifies  pale, 
death-hke,  mortal ;  so  also  the  Dutch  DoodelijJc,  and  Ger- 
man Todlich. 

Duv-da-lethe,  in  the  Gaehc  and  Celtic,  which  has  been  corrupted 
to  Dudley,  has  the  same  signification. 


120  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

DUFF.  In  the  Q-aelic,  signifies  black,  but  in  the  Cor.  Br.  and 
Welsh,  a  captain, 

DUFIELD.     DufeUt,  from  the  field. 

DTJGAN.     Dugan,  G-aelic,  the  son  of  Dhu^  or  the  dark-haired. 

DUMAK  Z>w,  from,  and  man^  an  elevation,  something  grand 
or  admirable.  In  the  ancient  langua,ges,  man  signifies  the 
sun,  and  mon^  the  moon. 

DUMFRIES.  Local.  A  town  in  Scotland  on  the  river  Nith, 
and  said  to  be  so  called  from  the  GaeUc  Dun^  a  castle,  and 
Dutch  vrows,  women — the  castle  or  retreat  of  the  women,  a 
nunnery.  I  think  rather  it  is  derived  from  Dunfrith,  the 
castle  in  the  forest;  G-aelic,  Dim,  a  castle,  ajid  frith,  a  deer- 
forest, 

DUMMER.    From  the  Danish  Dommer,  an  arbiter  or  judge. 
DUMONT.     (Fr.)     Bu  Mont,  from  the  hiU  or  mountain. 
DUN".     Local     From  the  parish  of  Dun,  Forfarshire,  Scotland, 

derived  jQrom  the  GraeHc  Dun,  a  hill  or  rising  groundj  a  fort 

or  castle. 
DUNBAR.    Local.    From  the  town'  of  Dunbar,  at  the  mouth 

of  the  Frith  of  Forth,  Scotland.     Dunabar,  GaeUc,  signifies 

the  castle,  town,  or  fort  on  the  height  or -summit.      The 

town  was  so  called  from  its  situation  on  the  rock  which  at 

this  place  projects  into  the  sea. 
DUNCAlSr.     (G-aelic.)     A  powerful  chieftain.     From  Dwn,  a 

fortress,  and  ceann,  head  or  chief.    Duncean  or  Duncan, 

strong-headed. 
DUNOANSBY.    Local.     Duncan's  Bay. 
DUNDAS.     (Gaeha)     Local     The  south  hill,  fort,  or  castle ; 

from  dun^  a  hill  or  fort,  and  deas,  south. 
DUNHAM.    Local    A  small  village  in  England,  so  called  fi'om 

dun,  a  hill,  and  ham^  a  village. 
DUNIPACE.     Local     From  the  Latin  Duni-pads,  hills  of 

peace. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  121 

DUNKELD.     (aaeHc.)    Local.    The  hazel-hilL 

DUJ^LEVY.  (Cor.  Br.  and  Gaelic.)  Local  From  Dun,  a 
hill,  ley,  green,  and  vy,  a  river  or  stream — ^the  green  hills  by 
the  river.  Dunlamh  or  Dunlavy,  in  Graelic,  signifies  the 
strong-handed.  Dundlamhas,  mh  having  the  sound  of  v,  is 
the  hill  or  castle  of  warriors. 

DUNLOP.  (Graehc.)  Local  A  parish  in  the  district  of  Cun- 
ningham, Ayrshire,  Scotland;  fi?om  JDun,  a  castle,  fort,  or 
hill,  and  luh,  a  curvature,  a  bending  of  the  shore — :the  castle 
or  hUl  at  the  bend. 

DUNN.  GaeUc,  Dun,  a  heap,  hill,  mount ;  a  fortress,  a  castle, 
fastness,  a  tower.  Dunn,  Saxon,  brown,  of  a  dark  color, 
swarthy. 

DUNNING.  The  brown  offspring,  from  the  Saxon  Dunn, 
brown,  and  the  termination  ing,  which,  among  the  Saxons, 
signified  offspring,  as  White-ing,  the  fair  offspring,  Outh-ing, 
the  son  of  Cuth.  Dunning  has  retained  its  original  orthog- 
raphy since  the  days  of  the  Saxons. 

DUNSTAN.  (Sax.)  From  Dun,  a  hill,  and  stan,  a  stone — ^the 
stone-hill,  or  the  strong,  enduring  dun  or  fortress. 

DUPPA.  Local.  A  corruption  of  D'  Uphaugh,  "  from  the  high 
or  upper  haw;"  Jiaugh,  Scottish  and  North  Enghsh,  a  low- 
lying  meadow,  a  green  plot  in  a  vaUey.  Du  Pau,  local, 
from  Pau,  a  town  of  France. 

DUR  In  the  Gaehc,  signifies  dull,  stubborn,  obstinate;  also, 
steady,  earnest,  persevering. 

DURANT.  From  the  Latin  name  Durandus,  enduring,  strong, 
inured  to  hardships,  from  duro,  to  harden,  to  inure  to  hard- 
ships, to  make  strong. 

DURBAN.  Local.  D'  Urbin,  a  province  of  Italy.  Urbin  or 
Urbino,  a  city  situated  nearly  in  the  middle  of  the  province 
or  Duchy  of  Urbin,  near  the  source  of  the  river  FogHa. 

DURDEN.    Local    An  old  Enghsh  word  signifying  a  coppice 
or  thicket  of  wood  in  a  valley. 
6 


122  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

DUKHAM.  Local.  According  to  Bailey,  this  word  is  derived 
from  the  Saxon  Dun  and  holm,  a  town  in  a  wood.  It 
seems  rather  to  come  from  the  British  Dour,  water,  and 
holm,  land  surrounded  mostly  by  water.  It  may  be  de- 
rived from  Doire,  which,  in  the  British  and  Celtic,  signifies 
a  woody  place,  abounding  in  oaks;  hence  Doireholm  or 
Dourham,  that  is,  the  place  or  town  surrounded  by  woods. 

DUEKEE  or  DUEGY.  In  the  Gaelic,  Duirche  is  the  compar- 
ative of  Dorch,  dark,  cloudy,  hence  dark-complexioned.  It 
may  come  from  Durga,  Gaelic,  surly,  sour,  repulsive. 
Durgy,  in  the  Cor.  Br.,  signifies  a  small  turf  hedge. 

DUEWAED.     A  porter  or  door-keeper — Door-ward. 

DUSTIN.     "Welsh,  Dysdain,  a  steward  of  a  feast. 

DUTCHEE.     (Dutch.)     Local.     From  Duitscher,  a  German. 

DUTTON.  Local.  A  village  in  Cheshire,  England,  and  may 
have  several  derivations.  Dut-ton,  i.  e.,  Dutch-town.  Du- 
ton,  from  Du,  Cor.  Br.,  side,  and  ton,  the  same  as  dun,  a  hill, 
that  is,  the  side  of  the  hill ;  or  Du-ion,  the  two  hills,  from 
Du,  two,  and  ion,  a  hill.  Dhu-ton,  Gaelic  and  Welsh,  the 
black  MIL 

DWYEE.  (Gaelic.)  Local.  From  Do-ire,  a  woody  place, 
uncultivated. 

DYEE.     One  whose  occupation  it  is  to  dye  cloth. 

DYKE.  Local.  A  name  given  to  one  who  lived  near  a  ditch, 
bank,  or  entrenchment,  as  "  John  at  the  dyke." 

DYKEMAN.  One  who  makes  dykes  or  entrenchments;  a 
dweller  near  a  dyke  or  embankment. 

DYSAET.  (Gaelic.)  Local.  A  parish  in  Fifeshire,  Scotland ; 
from  Dia,  God,  and  ard,  high — the  temple  of  the  highest. 
Dysart  was  a  place  of  ancient  Druidical  or  Gaelic  worship. 

EAGEE.  Sharp-set,  vehement,  earnest.  The  name  may  be 
local,  from  the  river  Eger,  in  Bohemia,  or  Egra,  a  city  on 
the  river  Eger. 


r 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  123 

EASTCOTE.     Local.     The  east-cote  or  house ;  so  Westcott,  the 

west-cote. 
EATON.     (Sax.)     Local.     From  ea,  water,  and  ton,  a  town. 

There  are  several  parishes  in  England  by  this  name. 
EBERLEE.     Local.     Eabar,  in  the  GaeHc,  is  a  marshy  place,  a 

place  where  two  or  three  streams  meet.     Welsh  and  Cor. 

Br.,  Aber-lle. 
EBEELY.     (Ger.)     From  eber,  a  boar,  and  ly,  like ;  indicating 

courage,  fierceness,  bravery. 

ECCLES.  A  church,  fi-om  the  Greek  kKKArjaia,  an  assembly, 
a  church,  Gaehc  eaglais,  Cor.  Br.,  IJgles  and  Eglas. 

EDDY.  In  the  G-aehc,  Eddee  signifies  an  instructor.  The 
name  may  be  local  fi:om  the  Saxon  Ed,  backwards,  and  ea, 
water — a  current  of  water  running  back,  a  whirlpool.  Edd, 
Welsh,  signifies  motion,  going;  Eddu,  to  go,  to  move. 

EDGAR.     (Sax.)     From  Eadigar,  happy  or  blessed ;  honor. 

EDGECUMBE.  Local.  From  the  manor  of  Edgecumbe,  in 
Devonshire,  England.     The  name  signifies,  "  the  edge  of  the 


EDIKER.     (Sax.)     From  Eadigar,  happy. 
EDMOND.     (Sax.)     Happy  peace. 
EDWARD.     (Sax.)     Happy  keeper. 
EGBERT.     (Sax.)     Always  bright,  famous. 

EGGLESTON.     (Welsh  or  Br.)    From  Egles,  a  church,  and 

tun  or  dun,  a  hill — the  church  on  the  hill. 

EIGINN.     (Gaelic.)     Strong-handed. 

ELDRED.     (Sax.)     AU  reverent  fear. 

ELI.     (Heb.)     The  offering  or  hfting  up. 

ELIAS.     (Heb.)     Signifies  Lord  God. 

ELLET.    Little  EUas,  the  diminutive  ette  being  added,  as  Wil- 
lett,  Hallett. 


•mmmmmmmmmi'mmi'mmmmmmm'imm 


124  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

ELLIOT.  Supposed  to  signify  the  son  of  Mias;  Heliat,  Welsh 
and  Cor.  Br.,  a  huntsman,  a  pursuer. 

ELLIS.     Contracted  from  Elias. 

ELPHINSTONE.  Local.  Erom  the  landd  and  barony  of 
Elphinstone,  in  Scotland,  and  derived  from  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  Elfenne,  a  fairy  or  spirit,  and  stone.  These  elfenne 
or  eZ/-stones  are  a  peculiar  hard  flint,  and  in  the  olden  times 
were  supposed  to  be  shot  by  the  fairies  or  elfs.  The  place 
is  so  named  from  this  kind  of  stone  being  found  on  the  land. 

ELTON.  There  are  many  places  of  this  name  in  England ;  it 
is  impossible  to  decide  from  which  the  family  appellation  is 
derived.  The^,  derivation  is  from  the  Saxon  words  ael,  an 
eel,  and  ton — a  town  abounding  in  eels. 

ELWY.    Local.    A  river  in  Wales. 

ELY.  Local.  From  Ely,  a  city  in  Cambridgeshire,  England, 
and  signifies  the  place  of  willows,  from  Helig,  Cor.  Br.  and 
Welsh ;  Latin,  Salix.  Greek  D^l^,  JEalig,  an  island ;  land  in 
waterland.     G-reek,  "EAof,  a  marsh. 

EMERSON.  (Sax.)  Mnar,  from  Ethelmar^  noble,  and  son — 
the  son  of  the  noble. 

EMMET.  Local.  The  name  of  a  river ;  ''Eimot;'  GaeHc.  the 
quick  river,  from  em,  quick.  Emmet,  Saxon,  aemet,  an 
ant. 

ENNIS,  ENNES,  or  INNIS.  (Celtic  or  Gaelic.)  Local.  An 
island  or  peninsula,  made  so  either  by  ^  fresh  water  river  or 
the  sea.      Ynys  in  the  Welsh. 

ENOS.     (Heb.)     Fallen  man,  mortal,  sickly. 

ERRICK.  ''  There  is  a  tradition,"  says  Dean  Swift,  "  that  the 
ancient  family  of  the  Ericks  or  Herricks  derive  their  hneage 
from  Erick  the  Forrester,  a  great  commander  who  raised  an 
army  to  oppose  the  invasion  of  William  the  Conqueror." 
Erick  is  derived  from  Ehr,  German,  honor,  and  rich,  rich — 
rich  in  honor. 


I 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  125 

ERSKINE.  Some  writers  deduce  this  family  from  a  noblo 
Florentine  wlio  came  to  Scotland  in  the  reign  of  Kenneth 
II.  It  is  said,  in  the  reign  of  Malcolm  II.,  a  Scotchman  ol 
high  distinction  having  killed  with  his  own  hand  Enrique, 
one  of  the  Danish  generals,  at  the  battle  of  MurthiD,  cut  off 
his  head,  and  with  the  bloody  dagger  in  his  hand  showed  it 
to  the  king,  and  in  the  GaeHc  language  said  Erishyne^  "upon 
the  knife,"  alluding  to  the  head  and  dagger;  and  in  the  same 
language  also  said,  "I  intend  to  perform  greater  actions  than 
what  I  have  done."  Whereupon,  King  Malcolm  imposed 
upon  him  the  surname  of  Erishine,  and  assigned  him  for  his 
armor-bearings  a  hand  holding  a  dagger,  with  "  Je  pense 
plus"  for  a  motto,  which  has  continued  to  be  the  crest  and 
motto  of  this  family. 

ERWEN".  Welsh,  Erwyn,  very  fair,  white.  Urfionn^  GaeHc, 
beautiful,  fair. 

ESHAM.  Local.  From  a  town  by  that  name  in  Worcester- 
shire, England,  formerly  Eoves-ham,  so  called  from  one 
Eoves  Egwins,  a  shepherd,  who  was  afterward  Bishop  of 
Worcester,  and  ham,  a  village. 

ESTLEY.    Local.     The  east  field  or  pasture— ^os^Z^y. 

ETHELBERT.  (Sax.)  Noble,  bright,  from  Ethel  or  Add, 
noble,  and  bert,  bright,  famous. 

ETON.  Local.  Awtwyn,  in  Welsh,  is  the  liillock  near  the 
waters,  from  Aw,  water,  and  twyn,  a  small  hill.  In  Saxon, 
Ea  and  ton  have  the  same  signifi.cation,  i.  e.,  "tlie  hill  or 
town  near  the  water." 

EUEE.  Local.  From  the  lordship  of  Eure,  in  Buckingham- 
shire, England.     Eure,  in  the  Cor.  Br.,  signifies  a  goldsmith. 

EUSTACE.     From  the  Greek  EvaTadr^g,  standing  firm. 

EVANS.  The  Welsh  for  John,  the  same  as  Johns.  Evan^ 
eofn,  fearless,  bold. 

EYELYN.  Local.  From  Evelyn,  in  the  county  of  Salop, 
England. 


126  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

EVERARD.  (Sax.)  The  same  as  EvSo^og  in  Greek,  that  is, 
well  reported,  ever  honored;  or  from  Bberhardt,  ever  hard  or 
enduring.  Some  writers  are  of  opinion-  that  we  have  Ehers, 
Everard,  Evered,  and  Everet,  from  Eber,  a  boar. 

EVERETT  and  EVERTS.    A  corruption  of  Everard. 

EVERLY.     Local.     A  place  in  Wiltshire,  England. 

EWELL.  Local.  A  town  in  England.  EwMU,  Cor.  Br.,  sig- 
nifies high,  tall. 

EYRE.     The  same  as  Ayres  or  Ayre  (which  see). 

EYTING-E.  (Saxon.)  Local.  From  Ey,  Saxon,  ig,  an  island, 
a  watery  place,  and  ing,  a  meadow — the  meadow  on  the 
island  or  near  the  water. 

FAAL.  (G-aelic.)  A  rocky  place ;  Felh,  Saxon,  crags,  barren 
and  stony  liills.  Eales  has  the  same  signification.  Ealaise, 
a  town  in  France,  takes  its  name  from  the  rocks  which  sur- 
round it. 

FABER.     (Latin.)     A  workman,  a  smith. 

FABIAIST.  Derived  from  the  Latin  Fabius,  Fdba,  a  bean — ^the 
bean-man,  so  called  from  his  success  in  cultivating  beans. 

FACET.  French,  Facette,  a  httle  face.  Faceie,  from  the  Latin 
FacetuSj  gay,  cheerful. 

FADEN.  (Gaelic.)  Feadan,  a  fife,  flute,  chanter  of  a  bagpipe, 
a  musical  instrument.     Ehdan,  the  son  of  Fad. 

FAGAN.  (Gaelic.)  A  beech-tree.  The  Fagans  were  descended 
from  Patrick  O'Hagan,  hving  a.d.  1180.  O'Hagan,  the  pos- 
terity of  Agan.  Ogan,  Ogyn,  or  Hogyn  signifies,  in  the 
Welsh,  young,  a  youth.     Gaelic,  Og,  a  young  man. 

FAGG.  (Saxon.)  Fag,  variable  or  many  colored;  may  be 
bestowed  on  the  first  possessor  from  his  variable  disposition. 
Fag,  a  laborious  drudge. 

FAIRBAIRN.  The  same  as  Fairchild — a  fair,  handsome  bairn 
or  child. 

FAIRFAX.     (Sax.)    Fair-hair;  Faex,  hair. 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  127 

FAIRHOLM.    Local.     The  fair  island,  or  fair  lands  bordering 

on  water ;  also,  where  a  fair  or  market  is  held. 
FAKE  or  FALKE.     (Ger.)     A  fakon  or  hawk;  figuratively, 

daring  or  enterprising. 
FAXES.    Local.     Fahj  a  river  of  Cornwall,  England;  also,  a 

rough,  rocky  place. 
FALKLAND.     (Sax.)     From  FokJc,  the  common  people,  and 

land — the  land  of  the  common  people,  in  the  time  of  the 

Saxons- 
FALUN.     Local     A  town  of  Sweden,     Falan,  GaeHc,  the 

eon  of  Fale. 
FANE.     From  Fane^  a  temple,  a  church.     Gaelic,  Fann,  faint, 

weak,  feeble. 
FANNING.     ThesonofFann. 
FANSHAW.     Local     Fane,  a  temple  or  church,  and  shaw,  a 

small  wood  or  grove,  a  thicket — ^the  church  in  the  grove. 
FAR.     Fawr,  same  as  Mawr,  Gaelic  and  Welsh,  great. 
FARMAN.     (Ger.)     Fahr-mann,  master  of  a  ferry-boat 

FARNHAM.  Local  From  a  town  in  Surrey,  England,  "  so 
called  from  the  Saxon  Fearn,  fern,  and  ham,  a  habitation  or 
village — the  village  in  the  place  overgrown  with  fern." 

FARQUHAR.  (Gaehc.)  From  Fear,  a  man,  and  coir,  just, 
honest,  good,  or  car,  friendly ;  Feardar,  from  Fear  and  ciar, 
dark-gray — a  dark-gray  man. 

FARQUHARSON.     The  son  of  Farquhar.      ' 

FARRADAY.  (Gaelic.)  From  Farraideach,  inquisitive,  pry- 
ing, curious. 

FARRAR.  A  corruption  of  Farrier,  a  name  of  trade.  Pfarrer^ 
in  German,  a  minister. 

FASSET  and  FAUCET.  (Fr.)  Fauseite,  falsehood,  cheat, 
forgery. 

FAULKNER.     (Ger.)     A  catcher  or  trainer  of  hawks. 


128  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

FAY.  (Spanish.)  Fe,  faith.  In  Normandy,  plantations  of 
beech  were  called.  Faye,  Fayel,  and  FautMe. 

FEARAK     (Gaelic.)    An  estate. 

FELCH.  Probably  a  corruption  of  Welch;  Filch  means  to 
pilfer. 

FELL.  Fd,  in  the  Dutch,  signifies  fierce,  furious,  violent ;  also 
local,  a  rocky  place,  barren  and  stony  hills ;  any  uninclosed 
place ;  a  moor,  a  vaUey.  A  sliort  time  since,  a  tradesman 
named  James  Fell  migrated  from  Ludgate  Hill  to  Fleet- 
street,  and  announced  the  event  in  the  following  manner : 
"L  Fell,  from  Ludgate  Hill;"  under  which  a  wag  wrote, 
"  Oh  what  a  fall  was  there,  my  countryman  I" — ^Lower. 

FELTOK  Local.  A  small  town  in  England;  the  rocky  or 
stony  hill. 

FENSHAW.     Local     The  sAaw  or  grove  in  the /era. 

FENTOK     (Welsh  or  Br.)    A  well. 

FERDINAND.  (Ger.)  From  Fred,  peace,  and  rand,  pure — 
pure  peace. 

FERGUS.  (Gaelic  and  Celtic)  A  fierce  or  brave  chieftain, 
from  Fear,  man,  and  guth,  a  voice  or  word,  that  is,  the  man 
of  the  word,  a  commander  of  an  army.  Some  suppose  the 
first  Fergus  was  so  named  from  Fairghe,  the  sea,  on  account 
of  his  large  navy ;  others,  from  his  raging  like  the  sea  in 
battle.     Feargach,  fiery. 

FERGUSON.     The  son  of  Fergus. 

FERRER  or  FERRERS.  Local.  From  i^'errieres,  a  small  town 
of  Gastinois,  France,  so  called  from  the  iron  mines  with 
•which  the  country  abounded ;  or  the  name  may  have  orig- 
inated firom  the  occupation  of  a  farrier  or  iron-dealer. 

FERRIS.    A  corruption  of  Ferrers  (which  see).    Fferis,  in  the 

Welsh,  signifies  steel. 
FERROL,  FIROL.    (Gaelic.)    Famous  men. 


OP   FAMILY    NAMES.  129 

FIELDING.  This  family  trace  their  descent  to  the  Earls  of 
Hapsburgh,  in  G-ermany.  Geffery,  a  son  of  Edward  of 
Holland,  served  with  Henry  III.  in  the  wars  of  England, 
and  because  his  father  had  dominions  in  LaufFenburgh  and 
'Renfelden,  he  took  the  name  of  Felden  or  Fielding. 

FIFE.    Local.     A  shire  or  county  of  Scotland ;  lands  held  in 

M 

FIFIELD.  Local.  Has  the  same  signification  as  Manorfield. 
Lands  held  in  fee  or  Jief,  for  which  the  individual  pays  serv- 
ice or  owes  rent. 

FILEY  and  FILLEY.  Local.  From  a  town  in  England  by 
that  name.     Filid,  Gaelic,  the  d  silent,  a  poet,  a  bard. 

FILO.  Filea,  in  the  Gaelic,  is  a  bard,  poet,  or  historian. 
$iAof,  in  the  Greek,  a  friend. 

FILMUR  and  FILMORE.  This  name,  in  all  probability,  arose 
from  a  residence  near  a  lake  or  a  fertile  piece  of  ground ; 
FUle,  Sax,,  denoting  fullness  or  plenteousness,  and  mere,  a 
lake  or  moist  piece  of  ground.  The  name  has  been  spelled 
at  different  times  Fylmere,  Filmour,  and  Filmore.  Several 
other  derivations  may  be  found  for  the  etymology  of  this 
name.  From  Filea,  Celtic  and  Gaelic,  a  bard,  a  historian, 
and  Trior,  great,  that  is,  the  famous  bard.  The  Fileas,  among 
the  Gauls,  or  Celts,  were  held  in  great  esteem,  and  their 
office  was  honorable.  They  turned  the  tenets  of  religion 
into  verse,  and  animated  the  troops  before  and  during  an 
engagement  with  martial  odes,  and  celebrated  the  valorous 
deeds  of  the  chieftains  and  princes  who  entertained  them. 

FINCH.     A  small  singing  bird. 

FINNEY.  Finne,  Gaelic,  the  genitive  of  Fionn,  fair,  sincere, 
true;  bringing  to  an  end,  wise,  a  head,  chief  The.  name 
may  be  local  from  Fines,  a  place  in  France. 

FIRMAN.     Ferdmon,  a  soldier. 

FISK.     (Fr.)     From  Fisc,  revenue,  public  ftmds. 

6 


130  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

FISTER.     (Dan.)    A  fisherman. 

FITZ  GERALD.  (Nor.  Fr.)  The  son  of  Gerald,  Mtz,  a  son, 
Gerald  (Teutonic),  all-surpassing,  excellent. 

This  ancient  and  honorable  family  is  traced  from  Otho  or 
Other,  a  Baron  in  Italy,  descended  from  the  Grand  Dukes 
of  Tuscany.  Walter,  son  of  Otho,  came  into  England  with 
WiUiam  the  Conqueror,  and  afterward  settled  in  Ireland. 

Maurice  Fitz  Gerald  assisted  Richard  Strongbow  in  the  con- 
quest of  that  kingdom. 

FITZ  GILBERT.  (Nor.  Fr.)  The  son  of  Gilbert;  Fitz,  a 
son,  Gilbert,  gold-like  bright,  or  bright  or  brave  pledge, 
from  gisle,  Saxon,  a  pledge.     (See  Gilbert.) 

FITZ  HAMOK  The  son  of  Edmon,  Hebrew,  faithful,  i.  e., 
the  son  of  the  faithful 

FITZ  HARDING.     The  son  of  Harding  (which  see). 
FITZ  HATTON.     The  son  of  Hatton  (which  see). 
FITZ  HENRY.     The  son  of  Henry  (which  see). 
FITZ  HERBERT.     The  son  of  Herbert  (which  see). 
FITZ  HERVEY.     The  son  of  Hervey  (which  see). 
FITZ  HUGH.     The  son  of  Hugh  (which  see). 
FITZ  JOHN.     The  son  of  John  (which  see). 
FITZ  MORICE.     The  son  of  Morris  (which  see). 
FITZ  ORME.     The  son  of  Orme  (which  see). 
FITZ  PARNELL.     The  son  of  Parnell  (which  see). 
FITZ  PATRICK.     The  son  of  Patrick  (which  see). 
FITZ  RANDOLPH.     The  son  of  Randolph  (which  see). 
FITZ  ROY.     The  son  of  Roy  (which  see). 
FITZ  SWAIN.     The  son  of  Swain  (which  see). 
FLACK.     Local.     (Dutch.)     "  TZa^,"  fiat,  low  ground. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  131 

FLAHERTY.  (Celtic.)  A  man  of  chieftain-like  exploits. 
From  fiaMh,  a  lord  or  chief,  and  oirbheartach,  noble-deeded ; 
the  man  of  noble  deeds. 

FLANDERS.  Local.  A  name  given  to  a  native  of  Flanders, 
a  County  or  Earldom  of  the  Low  Countries,  or  Nether- 
lands, It  took  its  name  either  from  Flandrina,  the  wife 
of  Liderick  IL,  Prince  of  Buc,  or  from  Flamhert^  the 
nephew  of  Clodion,  King  of  France. 

FLANNAG-AN.     (Q-aelic.)    From  fiann^  ruddy  complexion. 

FLEMING".  Local  A  native  or  inhabitant  of  Flanders.  See 
Flanders. 

FLETCHER.  A  maker  of  arrows,  or  superintendant  of  arch- 
ery.    From  the  French  fleche^  an  arrow. 

FLINT.  Local.  Derived  from  a  market  town  of  that  name, 
near  the  sea,  in  Flintshire,  Wales,  which  gives  name  to  the 
county. 

FLOOD.     Originally  FlvM  or  Floyd  (which  see). 

FLOYD.     The  same  as  Llwyd,  Welsh,  brown,  gray,  hoary. 

FOLGER.  Camden  defines  the  name,  ^^Foulgiers,  Feame"  (fern). 
Fougeres,  local,  a  town  of  France,  near  the  frontiers  of  Nor- 
mandy. This  town  has  given  its  name  to  a  noble  family. 
Raoul  de  Fougers  fortified  the  town,  and  built  the  castle. 

FOL JAMBE.    Full  James,  Fool  James  ? 

FOLLET  or  FOLLIOT.  (Fr.)  Frolicksome,  merry,  gay. 
"  Rightly  named  was  Richard  Fohoth,  Bishop  of  Hereford, 
who,  when  he  had  incurred  the  hatred  of  many  for  oppos- 
ing himself  against  Thomas  Becket,  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, one  cried  with  a  loud  voice  at  his  chamber  window  at 
midnight :  '  Folioth,  FoUoth,  thy  god  is  the  Goddess  Azaroth.* 
He  suddenly  and  stoutly  rephed :  '  Thou  liest,  foul  fiend,  my 
Qgd  i<i  the  God  of  Sabaoth." — Camden. 


132  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

FONDA.  Spanish,  Fonda,  bottom,  foundation,  the  source  or 
beginning.  Fondi,  a  town  of  Naples,  in  Italy,  so  called  from 
the  liSitm  fundiis,  the  bottom. 

FOOTE.  Local.  A  place  at  the  bottom  of  a  hill  or  mountain, 
the  base. 

FORBES.  Local.  Lands  free  from  military  service,  called 
Saor  Forba,  or  free  lands.  The  name  of  a  parish  in  Aber- 
deenshire, Scotland, 

FORBISHER.    A  pohsher  of  armor  or  weapons. 

FORDHAM.  Local.  So  named  from  a  town  in  England ;  the 
house  or  village  at  the  ford. 

FORRESTER  and  FORSTER.    A  woodman. 

FORSYTHE.  (GaeHc.)  From  Fear,  a  man,  and  Syih,  up- 
right, honest,  stiff. 

FORTESCUE.  Strong  shield.  Sir  Richard  Le  Forte  (the 
brave),  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  army  of  William  the  Con- 
queror, who  had  the  good  fortune  to  protect  his  chief  at  the 
battle  of  Hastings,  by  bearing  before  him  a  massive  shield, 
hence  acquired  the  addition  of  the  French  word  escue,  a 
shield,  to  his  name. 

FOSDYKE.  Local.  The  name  of  a  canal,  cut  by  the  order 
of  Henry  VIIL,  from  the  great  marsh  near  Lincoln,  Eng- 
land, to  the  Trent     Fosse-dyke. 

FOSQ-ATE.     From  fosse,  a  ditch,  moat,  or  trench,  and  gate. 

FOSS.  (Cor.  Br.)  The  entrenchment,  moat,  or  ditch.  Fas, 
Danish,  a  waterfall,  cataract. 

FOSTER.     Probably  a  corruption  of  Forrester  or  Forsfer. 

FOTHERBY.  Local.  The  town  of  provisions,  food  and  fod- 
der, from  Fother,  the  same  as  fodder,  Saxon  fodre,  food  for 
cattle,  and  by,  a  town. 

FOTHERGi-TLL.  Local.  From  Fother,  as  above,  and  gill,  a 
brook. 


OF    FAMILY   NAMES.  133 

FOTHERINGHAM.  Local.  The  house  or  town  supplying 
food  for  man  and  beast,  from  FotJier,  as  above,  and  ham,  a 
village. 

POULIS.  The  surname  of  Poulis  is  of  Korman  extraction. 
Their  first  British  ancestor  came  into  England  either  at  or 
before  the  Conquest,  and  his  armorial  bearings  were  three 
leaves^  called  '^Feuilles"  in  the  old  Norman ;  it  is  certain 
that  the  name  was  either  given  to  the  family  while  resi- 
dents of  South  Britain,  or  else  assumed  by  him  who  first 
settled  in  Scotland  in  the  reign  of  Malcom  Canmore,  when 
surnames  were  then  first  adopted. 

rOUNTArN".  Originally  Be  Fonte  or  Be  Fontibus  (Fountam), 
fi-om  the  springs  or  fountains  near  which  they  resided. 

FOWLER.    A  sportsman  who  pursues  wild  fowL 

FOX.  A  name  taken  from  the  cunning  animal ;  about  the  year 
1333  the  Shanachs  in  Ireland  anglicised  their  name  to  Fox. 

FRAME.  (Gaelic.)  Freumh  or  Freamhj  a  root,  stem,  stocky 
lineage. 

FRANK.  A  native  of  France,  free;  a  name  given  by  the 
Turks,  Greeks,  and  Arabs,  to  any  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  western  part  of  Europe,  whether  EngKsh,  French,  or 
Italians. 

FRANCIS.  From  the  Saxon,  Franh,  free.  The  Franks  were 
a  people  who  anciently  inhabited  part  of  Germany,  and 
having  conquered  Gaul,  changed  the  name  of  the  country 
to  France. 

FRANKLANB.  A  name  given  by  the  Saxons  to  the  land  of 
the  Franks. 

FRANKLIN.  Anciently,  in  England,  a  "  superior  freeholder," 
next  below  gentlemen  in  dignity,  now  called  country 
Squu-es.  Fortescue  says  (Be  Leg.  Ang.),  "  Moreover  Eng- 
land is  so  filled  and  replenished  with  landed  menne,  that 
therein  the  smallest  thorpe  can  not  be  found  wherin  dwell- 


134  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

eth  not  a  knight  or  an  esquire,  or  such  a  householder  as  is 
there  commonly  called  a  FranMin^  enriched  with  great  pos- 
sessions, and  also  other  freeholders,  and  many  yeomen,  able 
for  their  livelyhood  to  make  a  jury  in  form  aforementioned." 
So  Chaucer,  in  his  Canterbury  Tales ; 

"  A  Franklin  was  in  this  companie, 
"White  was  his  beard,  as  is  the  dayesie.*' 

FEASER,  FraiscJieur,  French,  freshness,  coolness,  bloom; 
Friseur^  a  hairdresser,  from,  f riser ^  French,  to  curl. 

FREDERICK.     (G-erm.)     Rich  peace,  or  peaceable  reign. 

FREEMAN.  One  who  enjoys  liberty,  or  is  entitled  to  a  fran- 
chise, or  pecuhar  privilege,  as  the  freeman  of  a,  city  or  state. 

FREER.     French,  Frere,  a  friar,  a  monk,  a  brother. 

FREIOT.     (Dutch.)    Fraadheid,  signifies  prettiness,  neatness. 

FREMONT.  Local.  From  Framont,  a  place  in  France,  near 
Lorraine,  meaning  the  Franc  or  free  mount,  the  battel  hill; 
or  the  fresh,  blooming,  beautiful  hill,  from  frais^  French, 
blooming. 

FRENCH.     Originally  coming  from,  or  belonging  to  France. 

FRERY.     Contracted  from  Frederick  (which  see). 

FRIAR.  (French.)  From  Frere,  a  brother,  a  member  of  a  re- 
ligious order ;  a  monk  who  is  not  a  priest,  those  friars  who 
are  in  orders  being  called  fathers. 

FRISBY.  Local.  (Danish.)  The  new,  or  fresh  town ;  Welsh, 
fres;  French,  frais,  fresh,  new,  recently  built;  Danish ,^A;, 
and  by,  a  town. 

FRISKIN.  (G-aeUc.)  From  Fear^  and  skein,  a  sword;  the 
man  with  the  ready  sword  or  hanger. 

FROBISHER.     The  same  as  Forbisher  (which  see). 

FROST.     (Welsh.)     Ffrost,  a  brag. 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  135 

FEOTHINGHAM.  Local.  A  house  or  village  situated  near 
a  strait  or  arm  of  the  sea.  Frithingham,  the  house  or  vil- 
lage among  the  hawthorns ;  frith,  Cornish  British,  a  haw- 
thorn, white  thorn.     Frith,  Gaehc,  a  forest,  a  place  of  deer. 

FRY.  (Cornish  British.)  Local.  A  hill,  a  town  or  house  on 
the  most  prominent  part  of  a  hill  or  eminencg.  German^ 
M'ei,  free,  Dutch,  Vry,  or  Fri/,  free. 

FULHAM.  Local.  A  village  on  the  Thames,  England,  and 
derives  its  name  from  the  Saxon  Fullen,  fowl,  and  ham,  that 
is,  the  house  or  village  of  fowl.  Either  from  the  house 
noted  for  its  good  living,  or  from  the  neighborhood  pro- 
ducing good  poultry. 

FULKE.     Dutch,  Valk,  a  hawk ;  German,  FaTke. 

FULKINS.    ThesonofFulke. 

FULLER.     One  who  fulls  cloth;  a  clothier. 

FULLERTOK    Local.     The  town  where  cloth  is  dressed. 

FULSOM.  Local.  From  Foulsham,  a  town  in  England, 
w:here,  perhaps,  were  raised  plenty  of  fowl,  or  the  streets 
foul,  or  the  population  full  and  crowded.  Saxon,  FuUenj 
foul. 

FURBUSHER.     The  same  as  Forhish&r  (which  see). 


GADSBY.  (Dan.)  From  gade,  a  street,  and  hg,  a  town,  i.  e., 
street-town ;  or  the  gate-town,  if  Webster  is  correct  in  giv- 
ing gade  the  Danish  for  gate. 

GAIRDEK  (Gaelic.)  An  inclosed  or  fortified  place;  the 
beacon  hill  or  hUl  of  alarm,  from  gair,  an  outcry,  an  alarm 
and  din,  a  hill  or  fortress. 

GALBRAITH.  A  compound  of  two  Gaehc  words,  GaU  and 
Bhreatan,  that  is,  strange  Briton,  or  Low  Country  Briton. 
The  Galbraiths  in  the  Gaehc  are  called  Breatannich,  or  Olann- 
a~Breatannich,  that  is,  the  Britons,  or  the  children  of  the 


136  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

Britons,  and  were  once  reckoned  a  great  name  in  Scotland, 
according  to  the  following  lines : — 

"  Bhreatanuich  o'n  Talla  dhearg, 
Hailse  sir  Alba  do  shloinneadh." 

"  Galbraith's  from  the  Red  Tower, 
•      Noblest  of  Scottish  surnames. " 

The  ^^TaUa  dhearg,''  or  "  Eed  Tower,"  was  probably  Dumbarton, 
that  is,  Dun  Bhreatain,  the  hill  or  stronghold  of  the  Britons, 
whence  it  is  said  the  Galbraiths  came.  Galbraith,  Welsh, 
the  diversified  plain. 

GrALE.  A  Gael  or  Scot;  a  stranger.  Fingal,  the  white 
stranger,  Dugal,  the  black  stranger,  alluding  to  the  com- 
plexion or  color  of  the  hair.  The  root  of  G-all,  or  G-aul, 
is  Hal,  the  sun,  from  which  we  have  Gal,  Oel,  01,  brilliant, 
bright,  glorious.  Greek,  ^Itog ;  Welsh,  haul,  Cornish  Brit- 
ish, houl,  the  sun.  Ge,  brilliant,  and  haul ,  Gehaul,  Gaul, 
the  ancient  name  of  France — still  called  "  sunny  France." 

GALGACHUS.  In  the  chronicle  of  the  kings  of  Scotland 
Galgachus  is  called  Galdus,  of  which  name  and  its  etymol- 
ogy Garden  gives  the  following  account : 

Galgachus  was  Latinized  by  the  Eomans,  from  the  Highland 
appellations  Gold  and  cachach ;  the  first,  Gald,  being  the 
proper  name,  and  the  second,  cachach,  being  an  adjection  to 
it  from  the  battles  he  had  fought ;  it  signifies  the  same  as 
proiliosus;  Gald  the  fighter  of  battles,  which  kind  of  nick- 
names are  still  in  use  among  the  Highlanders.  Colgach, 
Gaehc,  fierce,  furious,  and  a^h,  battle,  skirmish. 

GALL.  A  native  of  the  Lowlands  of  Scotland;  any  one 
ignorant  of  the  Gaelic  language ;  a  foreigner,  stranger.  Gal, 
Gaelic  and  Cor.  Br.,  battle,  evil  warfare ;    Gal,  Welsh,  clear. 

GALLAGHER.  (Gaelic.)  From  Gallach,  vahant,  brave,  and 
er  put  for  fear,  a  man.  Air  is  a  common  termination  of 
nouns,  and  changes  into  eir,  ir,  or,  oir,  and  mV,  its  etymon 
being /ear,  a  man. 


OF    FAMILY   NAMES.  187 

GALLIGAK     (G-aelic.)     From  Gealagan,  white. 

GALLUP.  (Ger.)  A  corruption  of  Gottlieb,  from  GoU,  God, 
and  lieh,  love  or  praise — God's  praise. 

GALT  or  GUALT.    A  bush  of  hair.     Welsh,  GwaUt. 

GAINNES.  Gaelic,  Gainne,  a  dart,  an  arrow,  a  shaft;  given 
because  of  expertness  in  the  use  of  these  weapons  of  war. 

GANESVOORT.  (Dutch.)  Prom  Gans,  a  goose,  and  voort^ 
advanced,  forward,  that  is,  the  forward  goose  or  the  gander; 
figuratively,  a  leader. 

GANG.  Local.  "Welsh,  genau,  an  opening  of  a  lake,  river, 
dale  or  valley ;  a  place  admitting  entrance.  Genau,  in  Ger.^ 
signifies  short,  alluding  to  stature. 

GARDENER  and  GARDNER.  A  name  derived  fi:om  the 
occupation. 

GARDENER.  This  name  may  be  derived  from  the  same  roots 
as  Gairden.  It  is  probably,  however,  the  same  as  Gar^ 
dener,  the  orthography  having  been  changed.  Camden  says, 
"  Wise  was  the  man  that  told  my  Lord  Bishop  (Stephen 
Gardiner,  Bishop  of  Winchester)  that  his  name  was  not  Gar- 
dener as  the  English  pronounce  it,  but  Gard^ne^,  with  the 
French  accent,  and  therefore  a  gentleman.'" 

The  principal  family  of  the  Gardiners  in  this  country  derive 
their  descent  from  Lion  Gardiner,  a  native  of  Scotland,  who 
served  under  General  Fairfax  in  the  Low  Countries  as  an 
engineer.  He  was  sent  to  this  country  in  1635,  by  Lords 
Say  and  Sele,  Brooke,  and  others,  to  build  a  fort,  and  make 
a  settlement  on  their  grant  at  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut 
river.  He  built  the  fort  at  Saybrook,  which  name  he  gave 
to  it  after  the  names  of  his  patrons  Lords  Say  and  Brooke. 
His  eldest  son,  David,  born  at  Fort  Saybrook,  in  1636,  was 
the  first  white  child  born  in  Connecticut.  He  afterward 
bought  from  the  Indians  the  island  in  Long  Island  Sound, 
called  by  them  Monchonack,  and  by  the  Enghsh  the  Isle  of 
Wight,  paying  for  it.  as  the  old  records  say,  a  black  dog,  a 


188  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

gun,  and  some  Dutck  blankets.  He  removed  there  with  his 
family,  and  gave  it  the  name  of  Gardiner's  Island.  The 
island  still  remains  in  the  possession  of  the  family,  having 
descended  in  a  direct  Une  from  Lion  Grardiner. 

GrARENNIER.     (Fr.)     A  warrener,  a  keeper  of  a  warren. 

G-ARFIELD.  Local  Sax.,  Garwian^  to  prepare;  G-erman 
and  Dutch,  gar,  dressed,  done,  ready  prepared,  and  field,  a 
place  where  every  thing  is  furnished  necessary  for  an  army. 

GARNET.  Local.  Gamedd,  Welsh,  a  tumulus;  an  ancient 
place  of  Druid  worship.  Carneddj  a  cairru  Garnet,  a 
precious  stone. 

GARNIER.  Fr.,  Garnir,  to  summons,  warn,  call  out,  furnish, 
supply.  Italian,  Guamire;  ISTorman,  Garner,  to  warn,  to 
summon,  to  fortify. 

GARRAH.  (Cor.  Br.)  Local  The  top  of  the  hill;  Garw, 
Welsh,  rough. 

GARRET.    A  corruption  of  Gerard  (which  see), 

GARRISOK  Local  A  place  where  troops  are  stationed,  for 
the  defense  of  a  town  or  fort,  or  to  keep  the  inhabitants  in 
subjection. 

GARROW,  GAROW,  and  GARO,  in  the  British,  signifies 
fierce,  keen,  sharp,  rough,  a  rough  place;  Gaehc,  Garbh^ 
rugged,  mountainous. 

GARRY.     Local.    A  town  in  Scotland. 

GARTH.  (Welsh.)  Local.  A  hill  or  promontory;  Gart, 
Gaelic,  a  head. 

GASKELL.     (Gaelia)     From  Gaisgeil,  valorous. 

GASTON.  Local  From  Gastein,  a  town  in  Bavaria.  Also  a 
brave  or  valorous  man,  from  Gais,  Gaelic,  bravery,  valor, 
and  duin,  a  man. 

GATES.     Local     Gute,  m  Scotland,  means  a  road  or  way. 


OP    FAMILY   NAMES.  139 

G-AVET.  Local.  A  town  in  Savoy  or  Dauphiny,  an  old 
province  of  France. 

GAYER.     A  gray-hound ;  a  swift  dog. 

G-AYLOR.     That  is,  (7eSer— loud-voiced. 

GEAR  and  GEER.  Gear  signifies  all  sorts  of  wearing  apparel 
and  equipments  for  horses  and  men,  from  the  Saxon  gear- 
rian,  to  make  ready ;  and  the  name  was  probably  given  to 
one  who  took  charge  of  and  superintended  the  gear.  John 
of  the  Gear,  John  O  Gear,  and  at  length  John  Gear. 

GEDDES  or  GETTY.  Local.  Gaeta,  a  town  of  Italy,  and 
signifies  a  stronghold.  Gaehc,  Caetigh  ;  Welsh,  Caety,  from 
Cae,  surrounded,  defended,  shut  up,  and  tigh  or  ty,  a  house. 
Geddes,  the  son  of  Gideon. 

GEOFFREY.  (Belgic.)  From  gau,  joyful,  and  fred^  peace — 
joyful  peace, 

GEORGE.     (Greek.)     A  husbandman,  a  farmer,  from  Veapyb^, 

GERARD.  (Tent.)  From  Gar,  aU,  and  ard,  nature;  apt, 
docile ;  one  ready  to  do  or  learn,  amiable. 

GERMAIN".  (Ger.)  A  name  given  to  a  native  of  Germany. 
German  is  derived  from  Werr-man,  i.  e.,  war-men,  a  name 
assumed  by  the  Tungri,  in  order  to  strike  terror  into  their 
Gaelic  opponents.  The  Romans,  for  want  of  a  W,  for  Werr- 
man  wrote  Gerriman.  Vonhammer  derives  the  word  from 
the  land  of  Herman,  now  Chorasin. 

GERRY.  A  corruption  of  Gerard  (which  see).  Gairdeach, 
the  d  silent,  from  Gairde,  Gaelic,  festive,  joyful. 

GERYAS.  ,  (Ger.)     Steadfast,  honorable. 

GETMAN.  (Ger.)  The  same  as  Ketman,  from  hettCj  a  chain, 
and  mann — a  chain-man,  one  who  used  or  carried  a  chain ; 
a  surveyor ;  a  maker  of  chains. 

GIBBON.  (Welsh.)  Guihan,  a  fly.  Gihean,  in  Gaelic,  signi- 
fies a  hunch-back ;    Gihh-ing,  the  son  of  Gilbert. 


140  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

GIBBS.     From  Gih,  a  nickname  for  Gilbert. 

GIBSON.     The  son  of  Gib  or  GHbert. 

GIDDINGS.     The  son  of  Gid  or  Gideon. 

GIFFORD  or  GIFFARD.  (Sax.)  Liberal  disposition;  the 
giver.  The  name  is  also  local,  a  town  on  the  water  of  Gif- 
ford,  Haddington  Co.,  Scotland,  from  Qaf^  Celtic,  a  hook,  a 
bend,  and /ore?. 

GIHON.  Local.  Gien  or  QiTien,  a  town  of  France,  in  the 
province  of  Orleans. 

GILBERT.  (Ger.)  Bright  pledge,  from  GHsle,  a  pledge;  or 
gold-like,  bright,  from  the  Saxon  Geele,  yeUow. 

GILCHRIST.  (Gaelic.)  From  giUe,  a  servant,  and  Chriosed, 
Christ — the  servant  of  Christ. 

GILKINSOK  The  son  of  OiM7i.  QiTkin  is  the  child  of  Gil 
or  Gilbert,  hin  mearung  child  or  oflfepring. 

GILL.  Local.  A  valleylsr  woody  glen;  a  narrow  dell  with  a 
brook  running  through  it ;  a  smaU  stream. 

GILLAK.    Local.    A  town  in  Scotland. 

GILLESPIE.  The  Gaehc  for  Archibald,  from  OiUe,  a  youth 
or  servant,  and  speach,  a  word  expressive  of  quickness  and 
sharpness  in  battle;  spuaic,  Gaehc,  to  break  the  head,  to 
knock. 

GILLETT.  From  OuiUot,  the  French  diminutive  for  WiUiam. 
The  family  may  have  come  with  WHUam  the  Conqueror 
into  England,  from  OiUette^  a  town  in  Piedmont-,  France. 
GiUette,  the  son  of  Giles. 

GILLIES.     (Gaehc.)     GiU-Iosa,  the  servant  of  Jesus. 

GILLPATRICK.  (Gaehc.)  From  gille,  a  servant,  and  Patrick 
— ^the  servant  of  Patrick. 

GILLY.    (Cor.  Br.)     The  wood  or  grove  of  hazel;  Gaelic, 

Coilh. 


OF   FAMILY    NAMES.  141 

G-ILLMAN.  The  Gillmans  are  said  to  have  come  from  the 
province  of  Maine,  in  France,  into  England  with  William 
the  Conqueror,  and  to  have  settled  in  Essex,  England. 
Whether  a  Oaulman^  a  Gael^  or  Brookman,  from  gill,  a 
brook,  the  same  as  kill  in  Dutch,  is  uncertain. 

GILMOUR.     Gillemore,  G-aelic,  the  henchman  or  follower  of 
•  the  chief,  one  who  carried  the  chiefs  broadsword,  from  gille, 
a  servant,  and  mor,  large,  great. 

GrILROY.  Qile-roimh,  a  running  footman  attendant  on  a 
Highland  chieftain ;  from  giUe,  a  servant,  and  roimh,  before, 
in  respect  of  situation  or  place ;  or  GiUe-righj  the  servant  of 
the  king. 

aiLSON.    The  son  of  QH  or  Gilbert. 

GIRDWOOD.  Local.  The  green  wood,  from  the  Welsh 
gwyrdd ;  or  the  inclosed  wood,  from  the  Danish  gierde,  a 
hedge ;  girds,  shoots  of  trees. 

GIRVAN.  Local.  From  the  river  and  town  of  Girvan  in  Ayr- 
shire, Scotland.  In  the  Welsh,  Gearafon  or  Chvyrddafon, 
imphes  the  river  flowing  through  the  green  flourishing  place, 
from  afon  or  avon,  a  river,  and  Qwyrdd,  green,  flourishing. 

GIYENS.  (Welsh.)  A  smith,  the  same  as  Gove  ;  Gaelic,  goT>- 
hain. 

GLANYILLE.  Local.  A  house  or  castle  on  the  shore  of  a 
river  or  the  sea ;  Welsh,  glan,  a  shore,  bank  of  a  river ;  old 
French  or  Gaelic,  the  same ;  as  Glandeve,  in  France,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Var,  Glan  or  glen  signifies  also  a  narrow  val- 
ley or  dell. 

GLASGOW.  (Gaehc  and  Cor.  Br.)  Local.  From  the  city 
of  Glasgow,  Scotland.  The  green,  fruitful  place,  from  glas, 
■  green,  and  geu  or  gew,  a  "  choice  field,"  the  stay  or  sup- 
port of  the  estate. 

GLASS.     (Gaelic.)     Gray,  pale,  wan;  glas,  Welsh,  green. 

GLENTWORTH.  Local.  From  Glyn,  a  valley,  and  worth, 
a  habitation,  dwelling,  or  farm. 


142  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

GLISTON.  Local.  Olaston,  the  green  hill;  Gliston,  the  shin- 
ing hill,  the  mineral  or  mica  hill. 

GLOUCESTER.    Local.     From  the  city  of  Gloucester,  Eng- 
land, the    ancient  Gleva,  from  the  Welsh  Glo,  coal,  coal- 
mines, and  castrum,  Latin,  a  Roman  fort  or  camp ;  Saxon, 
ceaster,  a  city, — the  city  of  coal. 

GLYN.     (Br.)     The  woody  vale. 

GOADBY.  Local  This  name  is  derived  from  the  Danish 
word  Oode,  that  is,  good,  fair,  rich,  fine,  and  by,  the  Danish 
for  a  town — meaning  the  fair  or  handsome  town.  If  the 
word  is  of  British  origin,  it  signifies  the  town  hy  the  wood, 
fi-om  Goed,  in  the  Cor.  Br.,  a  wood. 

GODARD.  (Ger.)  God-like  disposition.  The  name  may  be 
local,  from  Goddardj  a  mountain  in  Switzerland. 

GODENOT  or  GODENO'.  (Fr.)  "^  Jack  in  the  box,''  a  pup- 
pet, a  httle  ugly  man.  The  name  may  be  local,  and  come 
from  Gudenaw,  a  town  on  the  Lower  Rhine,  Germany. 

GODFREY.  (Ger.)  God's  peace,  godhke  peace,  from  God 
and /ncZ  or  frede,  peace,  or  from  Gau-fred,  joyful  peace. 

GODOLPHIK  (Cor.  Br.)  A  httle  valley  of  springs;  from 
Godolj  a  Httle  valley,  and  phin  or  phince,  springs. 

GODWIN.  Same  as  Goodwin  or  Gooden,  derived  from  God 
or  goodj  Sax.,  and  win,  conqueror,  that  is,  a  conqueror  in 
God,  converted  or  victorious  in  God. 

*'In  one  of  those  battles  fought  between  Edmund  the  Anglo- 
Saxon,  and  Canute  the  Dane,  the  Danish  army  being  routed 
and  forced  to  fly,  one  of  their  principal  captains  named  Ulf 
lost  his  way  in  the  woods.  After  wandering  all  night,  he 
met  at  daybreak  a  young  peasant  driving  a  herd  of  oxen 
whom  he  saluted,  and  asked  his  name.  '  I  am  Godwin,  the 
son  of  Ulfnoth,'  said  the  young  peasant,  '  and  thou  art  a 
Dane.'  Thus,  obhged  to  confess  who  he  was,  Ulf  begged 
the  young  Saxon  to  show  him  the  way  to  the  Severn, 
where  the  Danish  ships  were  at  anchor.     *  It  is  foolish  in  a 


OF   FAMILY   5,AMES.  143 

Dane/  replied  the  peasant,  '  to  expect  such  a  service  from  a 
Saxon ;  and  besides,  the  way  is  long,  and  the  country  peo- 
ple are  all  in  arms.'  The  Danish  chief  drew  off  a  gold  ring 
from  his  finger,  and  gave  it  to  the  shepherd  as  an  induce- 
ment to  be  his  guide.  The  young  Saxon  looked  at  it  for  an 
instant  with  great  earnestness,  and  returned  it,  saying,  'I 
will  take  nothing  from  thee,  but  I  will  try  to  conduct  thee/ 
Leading  him  to  his  father's  cottage,  he  concealed  him  there 
during  the  day ;  when  night  came  on,  they  made  prepara- 
tions to  depart  together.  As  they  were  going,  the  old  peas- 
ant said  to  Ulf,  '  This  is  my  only  son,  Godwin,  who  risks  his 
life  for  thee.  He  cannot  return  among  his  countrymen 
again;  take  him,  therefore,  and  present  him  to  thy  King, 
Canute,  that  he  may  enter  into  his  service.'  The  Dane 
promised,  and  kept  his  word.  The  young  Saxon  peasant 
was  well  received  in  the  Danish  camp,  and  rising  from  step 
to  step  by  the  force  of  his  talents,  he  afterward  became 
known  over  all  England  as  the  great  Earl  Godwin." 

GOFR     (Welsh.)     (7o/,  a  smith. 

GOLBURK     (Cor.  Br.)    Local.    The  holy  weU. 

GrOLDSMITH.    A  name  of  trade;    formerly  in  England,  a 
banker. 

GOLLY  or  GOLLAH.    Local.     (Cor.  Br.)     The  bottom,  or 
low  place. 

GOOD  ALL.     Good-hall,  a  fine  hall  or  mansion ;  or  good-ale. 

GOODENOUGH.    The  same  as  Godenot  or   Godeno'  (which 
see). 

GOODHUE.    Compounded  of  good  and  Hugh.     Good-Hugh. 

GOODRICH.     (Saxon.)     Goderich,  from  God,  God  or  good, 
and  ric,  rich ;  rich  in  God,  or  in  goodness. 

GOODYEAR,  GOODSIR,  GOODSIRB.    It  is  not  difficult  to 

derive  these. 
GOOKIISr.     (Gaelic.)    From  Gugan,  a  bud,  flower^  a  daisy. 


144  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

GORDON.  Gurtduine,  G-aelic,  a  fierce  man ;  Gwrddyn, 
Welsh,  a  strong  man ;    Cawrdyn,  Welsh,  a  hero,  a  giant. 

Some  have  derived  the  Gordons  from  Gordima,  in  Thessaly; 
others  say  they  are  descendants  of  the  Gorduni  mentioned 
by  Caesar  in  his  Commentaries.  The  name  appears  to  be 
local,  and  may  be  derived  from  a  tovm  in  France  of  that 
name,  in  the  Department  of  Lot  It  signifies  in  GaeHc  the 
round  hill,  or  the  hill  that  smrounds,  firom  Gour^  round, 
and  duUj  a  hill  or  fort. 

GORING-  Local.  A  battle  field,  a  bloody  place,  fi:om  gore, 
bloody,  and  ing.  A  place  in  Sussex,  England ;  an  angle,  a 
corner. 

GORMAN-  A  native  of  Germany,  the  same  as  Germain  (which 
see). 

GORTEN.  Local  (Gaelia)  From  Gairtean,  a  garden,  a 
small  piece  of  arable  land  enclosed.  Gortan^  signifies  a  hun- 
gry, stingy,  penurious  fellow, 

GOSPATRICK.  Corrupted  from  the  Latin  "  Comes  Patri- 
cius,"  "  Count  Patrick,"  a  title  given  to  the  Earl  of  March, 
of  Scotland. 

GOSS.     (Saxon.)     A  goose,  from  Gos,  a  goose. 

GOUDY.  Local  From  Gouda,  a  town  in  the  Netherlands, 
in  South  Holland. 

GOUPIL.     (Fr.)     An  obsolete  French  word  for  fox. 

GOW  or  GO  WAN.  (GaeUc.)  A  smith.  The  Gowan  or 
smith  of  a  Highland  clan  was  held  in  high  estimation.  His 
skill  in  the  manufacture  of  military  weapons  was  usually 
united  with  great  dexterity  in  using  them,  and  with  the 
strength  of  body  which  his  profession  required. 

The  Gowan  usually  ranked  as  third  officer  in  the  chiefs  house- 
hold. 

GOWER.  Local  (Welsh.)  Gwyr,  a  place  in  Glamorgan- 
shire, a  place  inclosed  round,  encircled.  This  peninsula  is 
mostly  suiTOunded  by  the  sea  and  rivers.    , 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  14^ 

G-RACE.  Originally  Le  Gros  ["  the  fat  or  large"],  a  name  given 
to  Raymond,  one  of  the  adherents  of  Strongbow,  who  was 
the  ancestor  of  the  family  in  Ireland; 

GEAHAM,  GRiEMB,  GRIMES.  From  the  Anglo  Saxon 
Qrim^  Dutch,  Qrim^  Germ.,  Grimm^  Welsh,  grrni^  Gaelic, 

.  gruaim^  surly,  sullen,  dark,  having  a  fierce  and  stern  look, 
courageous. 

GRANGER.  (Saxon.)  One  who  superintended  a  large  farm 
or  Grange. 

GRANT.  On  this  name  Playfair  remarks  that  it  may  be  de- 
rived from  the  Saxon,  Irish,  or  French. 

"  In  the  Saxon,  Grant  signifies  crooked  or  howed.  Thus  Camfi- 
bridge,  the  town  and  University  in  England  so  called,  signi- 
fies a  crooked  bridge,  or  rather  a  bridge  upon  Cam  River, 
or  the  crooked  and  winding  river. 

"  The  Saxons  called  this  town  Grant  Bridge,  Cam  in  the  Brit- 
ish, and  Grant  in  the  Saxon,  being  of  the  same  signification, 
crooked. 

"So  Mons  GrampMus,  ihe  Grampian  HUI,  was  called  by  the 
Saxons  Granz  Ben,  or  the  crooked  hill,  but  we  can  not  see 
how  from  this  Saxon  word  the  surname  should  be  borrowed. 

"  In  the  old  Irish,  Grandha  signifies  ugly,  ill-favored.  Grande 
signifies  dark  or  swarthy.  Grant  and  Ciar  signify  much 
the  same  thing,  or  are  synonymous  words,  and  there  being 
a  tribe  of  the  Grants  called  Olan  Chiaran,  it  is  the  same  as 
Clan  Grant.  Thus  the  surname  might  have  been  taken 
fi-om  a  progenitor  that  was  Chiar  or  Grant,  that  is  to  say,  a 
swarthy  or  gray-headed  man,  and,  though,  in  time,  Grant 
became  the  common  and  prevailing  surname,  yet  some  al- 
ways retained  the  other  name,  CMaran,  and  are  called  Clan 
Chiaran.  In  the  French  Grand  signifies  great,  brave,  val- 
orous, and  fi:om  thence  many  are  inclined  to  think  that 
the  surname  Grant  is  taken  firom  Grand,  which  in  the 
Irish  is  sounded  short,  and  thereby  the  letter  d  at  the 
end  of  the  word  is  changed  into  t,  and  thus  Grand  into 
7 


146  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

Chrant.  The  surname,  it  seems,  was  thus  understood  in 
England  about  five  hundred  years  ago,  for  Richard  Grant 
was  made  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  in  the  year  1229,  and 
is,  in  Mr.  Anderson's  Genealogical  Tables,  as  well  as  by 
others,  expressly  called  Richard  Grant.  But  the  English 
historians  of  that  time,  writing  in  Latin,  call  him  Richardus 
Magnus^  which  plainly  shows  that  they  took  Grant  to  be- 
the  same  with  the  French  Gfrand^  and  the  Latin  Magmus, 
To  which  let  us  add,  that  in  the  old  writs,  the  article  the 
is  put  before  the  surname  Grants 

GRAtTYILLE.  Local  (Fr.)  A  town  in  France  on  the  Eng- 
hsh  channel,  Orande-viUe — the  great  town  or  city.  De 
Orandville. 

GRASSE. .  Local.  From  Grasse,  a  town  in  Piedmont,  France. 
De  Grasse. 

GRAY.  Local.  A  town  in  Burgundy,  France,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Saone.  Rollo,  Chamberlain  to  Robert,  Duke  of  Nor- 
mandy, received  from  him  the  castle  and  honor  of  Croy,  in 
Picardy,  whence  his  family  assumed  the  name  of  Be  Croy, 
afterward  changed  into  De  Gray. 

GREELY.  Local.  Probably  the  same  as  GreUey  or  De  Grel- 
ley,  from  GreiUy,  in  France.  Leland,  in  his  Roll  of  Battel 
Abbey,  includes  this  name  with  those  who  came  into  Eng- 
land with  WiUiam  the  Conqueror.  Gh'ele,  French,  slender, 
slim,  delicate. 

GREENOUGH  and  GREENO'.    Local.    The  green  MIL 

GREER.  A  corruption  of  Gregor.  Gilbert  McGregor,  second 
son  of  Malcom,  Laird  of  McGregor,  who  settled  at  Nithes- 
dale,  Dumfries  Co.,  Scotland,  in  1374,  left  issue,  who  as- 
sumed the  short  appellation  of  Greer.  Welsh,  Grewr,  a 
herdsman. 

GREGOR.  (Gaelic.)  From  Greigh  a  herd  (Latin  Grex),  and 
fear  a  man,  a  herdsman.  In  the  Cornish  British  Gryger  or 
Gruger  signifies  a  partridge. 


or   FAMILY   NAMES.  14*7 

GREGORY.  From  the  Greek  TpTJyopog,  watchful.  It  may- 
be derived  from  Gregor,  as  some  of  the  Clan  M'Gregor 
changed  their  name  to  Gregory,  when  the  clan  was  pro- 
scribed and  outlawed. 

GREIG.     (Welsh.)     From  Cryg,  hoarse. 

GREY.     See  Gray. 

GREW.     (Br.  and  Welsh.)     A  crane. 

GRIER.  A  contraction  of  Gregor,  the  same  as  Greer  (which 
see). 

GRIERSON.  The  son  of  Greer  or  Gregor;  the  same  as 
McGregor. 

GRIFFESr.  A  name  given  to  a  noted  man,  whose  qualities  or 
disposition,  in  some  respects,  resembled  this  fabulous  crea- 
ture. Griffwn,  in  Welsh,  is  applied  to  a  man  having  a 
crooked  nose,  like  a  hawk's  bill.  Gryffyn,  in  the  Cornish 
British,  signijaes  " io  give'"'     It  may  be  the  same  as  Griffith. 

GRIFFITH.  (Welsh  and  Cor.  Br.)  One  who  has  strong 
faith,  from  Oryf,  Welsh,  strong,  andj^cZ,  faith. 

GRIMSBY.  Local.  A  borough  in  Lincokishire,  England,  on 
the  Humber,  so  named  from  the  appearance  of  the  place  or 
the  character  of  the  people.  Grim,  Saxon,  fierce,  rough, 
ugly,  and  %,  a  town — or  the  village  or  town  of  Grimm,  the 
owner  or  founder. 

GRINELL.     (Fr.)     Local.     From  Grenelle,  a  town  in  France. 

GRISSELL.  Chisyl,  in  the  Cor.  Br.,  signifies  sharp,  keen; 
Griis  or  Grys,  in  the  Dutch,  is  gray;  grissel,  gray-haired. 
Grizzle  is  the  old  famihar  abbreviation  of  the  name  Griselda. 

GROESBECK.  (Dutch.)  Local.  Derived  from  the  town  of 
Groesbeck  in  Holland,  so  called  from  Groot,  great,  and  heck, 
a  brook. 

GROOT  or  GROAT.  (Dutch.)  Local.  Large,  great,  the 
great  man.  Gfroot  is  also  a  name  of  a  town  in  Holland, 
whence  the  surname  may  be  derived — the  great  town, 
De  Groot. 


148  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

GROSCUP.  (Ger.)  From  gross,  big,  and  hopf,  head— big- 
head. 

GROSYENOR.  A  great  hunter  or  the  grand  huntsman,  from 
the  French  Crros  vmeur.  The  ancestor  of  the  family  as- 
sumed the  name  from  holding  the  office  of  grand  huntsman 
to  the  Dukes  of  Normandy. 

GROYER.     Groover  J  Oraver,  one  who  carves  or  engraves. 

GUELPH.  A  wolf;  the  surname  of  the  present  Royal  Family 
of  England.  We  have  the  following  amusing  tradition  of 
the  origin  of  the  royal  house  of  Ouelph : 

"  It  is  told  in  the  chronicles'  that  as  far  back  as  the  days  of 
Charlemagne,  one  Count  Isenbrand,  who  resided  near  the 
Lake  of  Constance,  met  an  old  woman  who  had  given  birth 
to  three  children  at  once,  a  circumstance  which  appeared  to 
him  so  portentous  and  unnatural  that  he  assailed  her  with  a 
torrent  of  abuse.  Stung  to  fury  by  his  insults,  she  cursed 
the  Count,  and  wished  that  his  wife,  then  enciente,  might 
bring  at  a  birth  as  many  children  as  there  are  months  in 
the  year.  The  imprecation  was  fulfilled,  and  the  countess 
became  the  mother  of  a  dozen  babes  at  once.  Dreading  the 
vengeance  of  her  severe  lord,  she  bade  her  maid  go  drown 
eleven  of  the  twelve.  But  whom  should  the  girl  meet  while 
on  this  horrible  errand  but  the  Count  himself,  who,  suspect- 
ing that  all  was  not  right,  demanded  to  know  the  contents 
of  the  basket.  *  Welfen,^  was  the  intrepid  reply  (i.  e.,  the 
old  German  term  for  puppies  or  young  wolves).  Dissatis- 
fied with  this  explanation,  the  Count  lifted  up  the  cloth,  and 
found  under  it  eleven  bonny  infants  nestled  together.  Their 
unblemished  forms  reconciled  the  scrupulous  knight,  and  he 
resolved  to  recognize  them  as  his  lawful  progeny.  Thence- 
forward, their  children  and  their  descendants  went  by  the 
name  of  Chielph  or  Welf.'' 

GUEY.    Welsh,  Gwiw,  good,  excellent. 

GTJIAR.     (Spanish.)    A  guide. 

GUIOT.     The  son  of  Guy;  a  guide. 


OP    FAMILY    NAMES.  149 

GUISCHARD  or  GUISCAED.  (Nor.)  A  wUy  or  crafty  man, 
a  shifter. 

GUNTER.  Supposed  to  be  the  same  as  IngulphiLs,  from  In 
and  goipe,  Belgic,  to  swallow  down,  to  devour.  The 
name  may  be  local,  and  given  to  a  native  of  Gaunt  or 
Ghent. 

GUNN  or  GOON.  (Br.)  Local.  From  Gun,  a  plain,  a  down 
or  common ;  Welsh,  gwaen. 

"  A  person  whose  name  was  G-unn  complained  to  a  friend  that 
his  attorney,  in  his  bill,  had  not  let  him  off  easily.  '  That's 
no  wonder,'  said  his  friend,  '  as  he  charged  you  too  high  /' 
But  this  is  not  so  good  as"  an  entry  in  the  custom-house 
books  of  Edinburgh,  where  it  appears  that  '^,'  meaning 
Alexander — ^A.  Gunn  was  discharged  for  making  a  false 
report  /'  " — ^Lower. 

Lower  also  tells  us  of  a  German  named  Feuerstein  (fire-stone — 
the  German  for  flint)  who  settled  in  the  West  when  the 
French  population  prevailed  in  that  quarter.  His  name, 
therefore,  was  changed  into  French  Pierre  d  Fusil,  but  in 
the  course  of  time,  the  Anglo-American  race  became  the 
prevalent  one,  and  Pierre  d  Fusil  was  again  changed  into 
Peter  Gun. 

GUNNING.    Belonging  to  Gunn,  the  son  of  Gunn. 

GUNSALUS.  Goncalez,  the  son  of  Goncale,  the  supposed 
founder  of  Castile.  Gonzales,  Spanish;  Gonsalves  (Port.)^ 
consolation,  in  safety,  in  salvation. 

GURDIN.  (Welsh.)  A  strong  man,  from  gwrdd,  strong,  and 
dyn,  a  man ;  also,  gwyrdd-din,  the  green  hill  or  inclosure. 

GURNEY.  Local.  From  the  town  of  Gournay,  in  Nor- 
mandy. 

GURR.     G^r,  in  Welsh,  signifies  a  man  or  husband. 

GUTHRIE.  Warlike,  powerful  in  war,  from  guth,  Saxon,  war. 
Guthmor,  Gaelic,  loud-voiced.  Guthrie,  a  town  in  Scotland, 
Gutric,  Gotric,  Gotricus,  rich  in  goodness,  rich  in  God. 


150  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

GI-UY.    A  term  given  in  Graul  to  the  mistletoe,  or  cure-all;  also 
a  guide,  a  leader  or  director,  from  Guia^  Sp.  and  Port. 

G-WYNNE,  aUINEE,  and  WIISTNE.    (Welsh.)    From  Qwyn, 
white. 

G-Y.     Local     A  town  of  France.     Oye,  to  guide. 


HACKER.  (Dutch.)  A  chopper,  a  cleaver,  hewer;  figura- 
tively, a  brave  soldier.  Danish,  JSdhker,  to  cut  in  pieces,  to 
chop,  to  hoe.  Hekher,  a  hedge,  from  hehhe,  a  hedge,  a  pro- 
tection, place  of  security. 

HADLEY.  Local.  A  town  of  Suffolk,  and  also  of  Essex, 
England,  from  houdf,  a  wood,  and  ley,  a  place  or  field. 

HAFF.  (G-er.)  A  sea,  bay,  or  gulf;  in  Cor.  Br.,  Hdf,  summer. 
Sbfj  G-er,,  a  court;  Sqf,  Welsh,  dear,  beloved. 

HAGADORK     (Dutch.)    Local    Hawtl.orn. 

HAGAR.  Sdgar,  Hebrew,  a  stranger ;  one  fearing.  Hygar^ 
in  the  Welsh,  is  amiable,  pleasing.  Hegar,  Cor.  Br.,  lovely; 
also,  a  bondman,  a  slave.  ^Aigher,  Gaelic,  gladness,  joy, 
mirth. 

HAINEAH.  Local.  From  Hameau,  a  city  of  Hesse  Cassel, 
Germany. 

HAINES  or  HAYNES.  Camden  derives  the  name  from  Am- 
ulph,  and  that  from  Ana,  alone,  and  ulph.  Sax.,  help,  that  is 
one  who  needs  not  the  assistance  of  others.  Hdine,  a  river 
in  Belgium.  Haine,  Fr.,  signifies  malicious,  fuU  of  hatred. 
Hain,  German,  a  wood,  forest,  thicket,  grove. 

HAINSWORTH  and  HAYNSWORTH.  (Anglo-Saxon.) 
Local.  The  farm  or  place  in  the  forest  or  grove,  from  haine, 
German  and  Saxon,  a  wood,  and  worth,  a  place  inclosed, 
cultivated.     British  and  Welsh,  the  estate  on  the  river. 

HALDEN.  Local  A  contraction  of  Haledon,  a  place  in 
Northumberland,  England,  from  the  Saxon  halig,  holy,  and 
dun,  a  hill ;  a  place  where  Oswald  got  the  victory  of  Cad- 


OF    FAMILY   NAMES.  151 

■waUader,  the  Briton,  and  from  this  circumstance  was  called 
the  Holy  Hill,  and  also  the  Heavenly  Field. 

HALE,  HAYLE,  or  HAL.  (Welsh.)  A  moor;  also,  Hayh,  a 
salt-water  river. 

HALES.  Local.  From  a  village  in  Grloucestershire,  and  also  a 
tovm  in  Norfolk,  England.  In  Cor.  Br.,  it  signifies  low, 
level  lands  washed  by  a  river  or  the  sea ;  a  moor.  Playfair 
says,  "  The  word  Hales  is  a  compound  one,  being  formed  of 
the  Saxon  Hale  or  Heile,  strong,  healthy,  and  ley,  etc. 
Others  derive  it  from  Halig,  Saxon,  holy. 

HALIFAX.  (Sax.)  Local.  From  the  city  of  Halifax,  in  York- 
shire, England,  so  called  from  Halig,  holy,  and  faex,  hair — 
holy  hair ;  from  the  sacred  hair  of  a  certain  virgin  whom  a 
clerk  beheaded  because  she  would  not  comply  with  his  de- 
sires. She  was  afterward  canonized.  From  this  circum- 
stance, the  village  was  also  called  Horton,  from  Haer,  Sax., 
hair,  and  ton,  a  town. 

HALKETT.  The  name  of  Halkett,  in  the  writs  of  the  family, 
is  promiscuously  written  "  de  Hawkhead'*  and  "  de  Halkett." 
It  is  territorial  or  local,  and  was  assumed  by  the  proprietor 
of  the  lands  and  barony  of  Hawkshead,  in  Renfrewshire,  as 
soon  as  surnames  became  hereditary  in  Scotland. 

HALLAM.  From  Hall,  Welsh,  salt,  and  ham,  a  house  or  vil- 
lage, from  its  manufacture  in  that  place,  or  being  situated 
near  the  salt  water.  It  may  be  derived  from  Hal  or  Hayle, 
a  moor,  and  ham, — ^the  house  on  the  moor.  Halham,  the 
house  on  the  hill,  from  Hal,  Cornish  British,  a  hill. 

HALLER.  (Grer.)  From  Holler,  a  man  belonging  to  a  salt- 
work. 

HALLETT.  Little  Hal,  or  Henry,  the  diminutive  termination 
ett  being  added,  as  Willett,  EUett. 

HALLIDAY.  "  Holy-day."  It  is  said  this  name  had  its  ori- 
gin in  the  Slogan,  or  war-cry  of  a  G-aeKc  clan  residing  in 
Annandale,  who  made  frequent  raids  on  the  English  border. 
On  these  occasions  they  employed  the  war-cry  of  "  A  holy- 


162  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

day,"  every  day,  in  their  estimation,  being  holy,  that  was 
spent  in  ravaging  the  enemy's  country. 

HALLO  WELL.    HolyweU. 

HALPEK  (Welsh.)  The  head  of  the  moor  or  salt  river. 
Gaehc,  Alpin,  the  highest  land,  peak  of  a  moimtain,  from 
Alp  and  hen. 

HALSE.  Local.  (Dutch.)  Rals,  the  neck,  a  narrow  tract  of 
land,  projecting  from  the  main  body. 

HALSEY.  Local.  From  Hals,  and  ey  or  ig,  Saxon,  an  island, 
water,  the  sea ;  the  neck  on  the  water,  or  running  into  the 
sea.    The  island  neck. 

HALSTEAD.  Local  A  town  in  Essex,  England,  from  Bals, 
as  given  above,  and  sted,  a  place.  Hoisted,  £t  town  in  North 
Jutland,  that  is,  the  low  place ;  Hoi,  Dutch,  hollow,  and  stead, 
a  place :  a  house  or  town  in  a  hollow  place. 

HAM.  Local.  A  house,  borough,  or  village,  the  termination 
of  many  names  of  places  in  England ;  German,  heim,  a  home ; 
France. 

HAMILTON.  Originally  BamUeton,  from  the  manor  of  Ham- 
bleton,  in  Buckinghamshire.  William,  third  son  of  Eobert, 
'  third  Earl  of  Leicester,  took  that  surname  from  the  place  of 
liis  birth,  as  above.  He  was  the  founder  of  the  family  of 
that  name  in  Scotland,  whither  he  went  about  the  year 
1215.  The  name  is  derived  from  HameU,  a  mansion,  the 
seat  of  a  freeholder,  and  dun,  an  enclosure,  a  fortified  place, 
a  town. 

HAMLIN.  Local.  A  corruption  of  Hammelme,  which  was 
taken  from  Hamekn,  a  town  on  the  river  Weser,  Germany. 
Hamelin,  a  town  in  Scotland,  so  called  from  Ham,  a  house 
or  village,  and  lin,  a  waterfall,  a  small  lake  or  pond. 

HAMMEL.  (Armoric.)  A  house,  a  close,  a  place  of  rest,  a 
home.    Hamle,  a  river  in  Brunswick,  Germany. 

HAMMOND.  Hamrmount,  the  town  or  house  on  the  eleva- 
tion.   It  may  come  from  Hamon. 


OP   FAMILY   NAMES.  ,  158 

HAMOK     (Heb.)    Faithful 

HAMPTOK  Local.  The  town  on  the  hill;  a  village  in  Mid- 
dlesex, England. 

HANNA.  Local.  From  Hanan,  a  strong  city  in  Hesse  Cassel, 
Germany.  Hana,  Saxon,  a  cock  j  figuratively,  a  leader,  a 
chief  man. 

HANDEL.  (Danish.)  Trade,  commerce;  to  trade,  trafl&c; 
handel,  Dutch,  traffic,  commerce,  mechanic  art,  profession, 
business,  or  employment. 

HANDSEL.  (Danish.)  To  deliver  into  the  hand.  An  earnest 
money  for  the  first  sale.     A  New  Year's  gift. 

HANFORD.  Local.  (Welsh.)  From  hen,  old,  and  ford,  a 
way;  "the  old  way." 

HANHAM.  (Welsh.)  Hen,  old,  and  Saxon,  ham,  a  town; 
that  is,  the  old  town. 

HANKS.  A  nurse -name,  or  an  abbreviation  of  John,  the  "s" 
being  added  for  ''  son ;"  so  "  Sims,"  and  "  Gibbs,"  etc. 

HANLEY.  Local.  From  the  town  of  Hanley,  in  Shropshire. 
The  old  place  or  field,  from  Hen  or  Han,  old,  and  ley,  a 
place,  a  common. 

HANSEL.  Local.  (Saxon.)  A  firee  market  or  hall,  from  Mwwse 
or  han^e,  a  society,  hansa,  G-othic,  a  multitude,  and  sel,  a  hall. 

HANSON.  The  son  of  Hans  or  John,  same  as  Johnson. 
Bailey  derives  it  from  Han,  the  .diminutive  of  Randall,  the 
son  of  Randall. 

HANWAY.     A  native  of  HainauU,  which  country  was  called 

Hanway,  in  the  time  of  Henry  VIIL 
HARCOURT.     Local.     From   the  lordship   of  Harcourt,   in 

Normandy.     Har,  from  Saxon  Here,  an  army,  and  court. 
HARDESTG.    Local.    Har,  from  here,  an    army,  and  ing,  a 

meadow  or  common.      The  place  where  an   army  was 

encamped. 


164  ETjTMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

HARDY.    (Fr.)    Bold,  free,  noble. 

HARGILL.  Local.  Hartgill,  a  small  river  in  England.  "  The 
deer-brook." 

HARGrRAVE.  Saxon.  The  provider  or  commissary  of  an 
army,  from  Here  or  Har^  an  army,  and  grave^  a  steward  or 
disposer. 

HARLEY,  HARLEIGH,  and  HARLOW.  Local.  From  a 
town  in  Essex,  England;  the  place  of  the  army.  From 
jBere,  Saxon,  an  army,  and  Zey,  a  place,  a  field. 

'  HARM  AN,  says  Verstegan,  "  should  rightly  be  Heartman,  to 
wit,  a  man  of  heart  and  courage."  Probably  the  same  as 
Herman,  from  Here,  an  army,  and  man,  a  soldier. 

HAROLD.  In  old  Anglo  Saxon,  signifies  "  The  love  of  the 
army."     From  Har,  an  army,  and  hold,  love. 

HARRINGTOK  Local  From  the  parish  of  Harrmgton,  in 
Cumberland,  corrupted  from  Haverington,  so  called  from 
Haver,  Dutch,  Hdber,  Teut.,  oats,  ing,  a  field,  and  ton.  The 
town  in  or  surrounded  by  oat  fields. 

HARRIS,  HARRISOK,  and  HERRIES.    The  son  of  Henry. 

HARROWER.  The  subduer;  from  the  French  harrier,  to 
harrass ; — and  this,  perhaps,  from  the  Anglo  Saxon,  hergian, 
to  conquer  or  subdue ;— -one  who  harrows  the  ground. 

HARTFIELD.    Local    The  deer  field. 

HARTGILL.     Same  as  Hargill  (which  see). 

HARTSHORN.  The  horn  of  the  hart  or  male  deer ;  an  em- 
blem or  sign  over  a  shop  or  inn,  whence  the  name,  "  WiU  at 
the  Hartshorn.^' 

HARTWELL.  Local.  From  a  village  in  Buckingham,  Eng- 
land, noted  for  being  some  years  the  residence  of  Louis 
XVIII.    The  well  or  spring  frequented  by  deer. 

HARVEY.     (Sax.)     From  here,  an  army,  and  wic,  a  fort. 


OF   FAMILY    NAMES.  165 


HASBROUCK.    Local.    Derived  Jfrom  the  town  of  EdzebroucJc, 


in  the  province  of  Artois,  France. 


HASCALL  or  HASKELL.  (Welsh.).  From  hasg,  a  place  of 
rushes,  or  sedgy  place,  and  hall  or  hayle,  a  moor.  "  The 
sedgy  place."  AsgaU,  in  the  GaeHc,  signifies  a  sheltered 
place,  a  retreat,  and  with  the  addition  of  the  aspirate  "  H," 
might  make  the  name. 

HASWELL.  (Dutch  or  Grerm.)  Rasveldt,  from  Base,  a  river 
in  Westphaha,  and  veldt,  a  field,  corrupted  into  well;  or 
from  Wald,  Glerman,  a  wood  or  forest, — the  forest  on  the 
Hase.  The  name  may  also  signify  the  misty  place,  or  the 
Wild  or  field  of  hares,  from  Haas,  Dutch,  a  hare. 

HASTIN[GS.  Local.  Derived  from  the  borough  of  Hastings, 
in  Sussex,  England,  which  is  memorable  for  the  landing  of 
WilHam  the  Conqueror,  and  defeat  and  death  of  Harold  IL,. 
in  1066. 

Camden  derives  this  name  from  one  Hastings,  a  Dane,  a  great 
robber,  who  either  seized,  or  built,  or  fortified  it.  Somnerus 
derives  it  fi-om  the  Saxon  haeste,  heat,  because  of  the  bub- 
bling or  boihng  of  the  sea  in  that  place ;  but  as  haste  appHes 
rather  to  voluntary  beings,  as  men  and  other  animals,  the 
name  more  correctly  signifies  one  who  hurries,  presses, 
drives;  vehemency,  quickness  of  motion. 

HATCH.  Local.  A  kind  of  door  or  floodgate.  These  ancient 
stops  or  hatches  consisted  of  sundry  great  stakes  and  piles 
erected  by  fishermen  in  the  river  Thames  or  other  streams, 
for  their  better  convenience  of  securing  fish.  Also,  a  term 
for  gates  leading  to  deer-parks  or  forests. 

HATHAWAY.  Local  Derived  from  Port  Haethwy,  in 
Wales. 

HATFIELD.  Local.  From  a  town  in  Hertfordshire,  also  in 
Essex  and  Yorkshire,  England.  Bailey  says  it  is  fi'om  Saij 
hot.  Sax.,  and  Jield — ^from  the  hot  sandy  soil.     Houtfield,  the 


X6Q  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

field  in  ike  wood,  from  hout,  Dutch,  a  wood.    Perhaps  the 
same  as  Heathfield. 

HATHORN.    Local    A  dwelling  near  hawthorns. 

HATTON.  Local  A  town  in  Warwickshire,  England.  The 
town  on  the  height ;  haut,  Fr.,  high.  Haughton,  the  town 
in  the  meadow  or  vale.  Soudt-ton,  Dutch,  the  town  in  the 
wood.  Shortly  after  the  Conquest,  Hugh  Montfort's  second 
son,  Richard,  being  Lord  of  Hatton  in  Warwickshire,  took 
the  name  of  Hatton. 

HAUGrH.    Local.    A  httle  meadow  lying  in  a  vaUey. 

HAYEMEYER.     (Danish  and  Dutch.)    A  garden-master. 

HA  YENS.    From  Edvm,  a  harbor. 

HAYERILL.  Local.  Derived  from  the  town  of  Haverill,  in 
Suffolk,  England,  so  named  from  the  Dutch  Saver ;  Teut., 
Saber,  oats,  and  MM. 

HAW  and  HA  WES.  (Sax.)  Saeg,  a  small  inclosure  near  a 
house,  a  haugh,  a  close.     The  name  of  a  town  in  England. 

HAWLEY.  Prom  Baw,  a  hedge,  Saxon,  haeg,  a  small  piece 
of  ground  near  a  house,  a  close,  a  place  where  hawthorns 
grow,  and  ley,  a  field  or  meadow. 

HAY.  A  hedge,  an  inclosure,  to  inclose,  fence  in,  a  protection, 
a  place  of  safety.  In  Dutch,  Haag ;  Sax.,  Hege;  G-er., 
Heck;  Danish,  HeJcJce;  Swedish,  Hagn;  Fr.,  Haie ;  Welsh, 
Cae;  Gaelic,  Ca;  Cor,  Br.,  Hay. 

"  In  the  reign  of  Kenneth  III.  (says  Douglass),  about  980,  the 
Danes  having  invaded  Scotland,  were  encountered  by  that 
king,  near  Loncarty,  in  Perthshire.  The  Scots  at  first  gave 
way,  and  fled  through  a  narrow  pass,  where  they  were 
stopped  by  a  countryman  of  great  strength  and  courage,  and 
his  two  sons,  with  no  other  weapons  than  the  yokes  of  their 
plows.  Upbraiding  the  fugitives  for  their  cowardice,  he 
succeeded  in  rallying  them ;  the  battle  was  renewed,  and 
the  Danes  totally  discomfited.  It  is  said,  that  after  the 
victory  was  obtained,  the  old  man,  lying  on  the  ground 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  16t 

wounded  and  fatigued,  cried  '-Say,  -Say,'  which  word  be- 
came the  surname  of  his  posterity.  The  king,  as  a  reward 
for  that  signal  service,  gave  him  as  much  land  in  the  Carse 
of  Growrie  as  a  falcon  should  fly  over  before  it  settled ;  and 
a  falcon  being  accordingly  let  off,  flew  over  an  extent  of 
ground  six  miles  in  length,  afterward  called  Errol,  and 
lighted  on  a  stone  still  called  Fahonstone  or  Hawkstone" 

HAYCOCK.  A  name  probably  given  to  a  foundling  exposed 
in  a  hayfield. 

HAYDEN  and  HAYD YN.  Local.  Heyden,  a  town  of  Den- 
mark; a  place  built,  made,  inclosed,  or  cultivated,  from 
daane^  Danish,  to  form,  to  fashion,  to  make,  cultivate. 

HAYFORD.  -Say,  an  inclosure,  and /orcZ,  away — ^the  road  or 
way  inclosed,  or  the  way  through  the  inclosure  or  park. 

HAYM-AN".  (Sax.)  A  high  man,  or  may  be  the  same  as 
Hayward  (which  see). 

HAYNE  or  HAYNES.    (See  Haine.) 

HAYN^R.  (Ger.)  From  Hech  or  Hohe,  high,  and  narr,  a 
fool,  a  jester,  a  merry  fellow,  king's  fool.  Perhaps,  like  Q-eorge 
Buchanan,  who  was  so  called,  a  wise  and  learned  man. 

HAYNSWORTH.     (See  Hainsworth.) 

HAYWARD.  Anciently  in  England  the  keeper  of  the  com- 
mon herd  or  cattle  of  a  town,  from  the  Saxon  hieg,  hay,  and 
ward,  a  keeper. 

HAZARD.  (Br.)  From  ard,  nature,  and  has,  high — of  high 
disposition,  proud,  independent. 

HAZELRiaa.    Local.    The  hazel-ridge. 

HAZBLWOOD.    Local.    A  wood  where  hazel-nuts  grow. 

HAZEN  or  HASEN.     (Dan.)    A  hare. 

HEAD.  Anciently  written  Hede  or  Hide.  Probably  from  the 
place  written  Hede  or  Hide  in  Doomsday  Book,  now  Hithe^ 
in  Kent,  England,  where  the  earhest  traces  of  the  Head 
family  are  found.  From  the  Anglo-Saxon  Mthej  a  harbor, 
a  shelter  for  boats. 


168  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

HEATON.  (Saxon.)  Local  The  high  town  or  hill,  from 
Hea^  high,  and  ton. 

HEBER.  (Heb.)  Derived  either  from  Heber^  one  of  the  an- 
cestors of  Abraham,  or  from  the  Hebrew  word  e&er,  which 
signifies  "  from  the  other  side,"  that  is,  foreigners. 

HECKER.  (Dan.)  Hekker^  a  hedger,  from  hekke,  a  hedge,  a 
protectioiL 

HEDD.     (Welsh.)    Peace ;  JiaiM,  barley. 

HEDGES.  Local.  A  fence  of  thorn-bushes;  a  thicket  of 
shrubs ;  an  inclosure  of  shrubs  or  small  trees. 

HEDON.  Local  From  a  town  in  England  of  the  same  name 
— the  high  town. 

HELLIER  or  HILLIER.  In  the  dialect  of  Dorsetshire,  Eng- 
land, signifies  a  thatcher  or  tiler. 

HELLING-.  Local  BeUan,  in  the  Welsh,  signifies  the  elms — 
the  place  of  elms.  Hdling^  m  the  Dutch,  means  a  slope  or 
declivity. 

HELMER  or  ELMER.  Contracted  from  Ethehner,  noble,  re- 
nowned. Holmer^  the  low,  shallow  pond  or  lake,  from  Eo\ 
Sax.,  low,  and  mer,  a  pond.  Halemer,  Cor.  Br.,  the  lake  in 
the  moor,  or  the  salt  water. 

HENDERSON.     The  son  of  Hendrik  or  Henry. 

HENLEY.  Local.  From  a  market-town  in  Oxfordshire,  also 
a  town  in  Warwickshire,  England.  From  Hen^  old,  and  fey, 
a  field  or  common. 

HENRY.  Yerstegan  derives  this  name  from  MnncTc,  ever 
rich;  others  from  Herrick,  rich  lord  or  master;  Camden, 
from  the  Latin  Sonoricus,  honorable.  Kilian  writes  it 
Heynrich — ^Heymrick,  i.  e.,  rich  at  home. 

HERBERT.  (Sax.)  From  Bere,  a  soldier,  and  heorM,  bright 
— an  expert  soldier,  or  the  glory  of  an  army;  famous  in 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  169 

HERIOT.     A  provider  of  furniture  for  an  army.     A  fine  paid 

to  a  lord  at  the  death  of  a  landlord. 
HERISSON.    Local.     From  a  town  by  that  name  in  France. 

HERMAN.  (Sax.)  From  Here,  an  army,  and  man.  A  man 
of  the  army ;  a  soldier.  Here  and  Hare  signify  both  an 
army  and  lord. 

HERMANCE.  (Germ.)  A  ruler.  Heermensch^  Dutch,  a 
master,  from  Heer,  a  master,  lord,  or  ruler,  and  mensch,  a 
man. 

HERNDOK  Local.  From  Heme,  a  cottage,  and  den,  a  val- 
ley.   The  cottage  in  the  vaUey. 

HERNE.    May  come  from  the  Saxon  Hern,  a  cottage. 

HERNSHAW.  Local.  From  hern,  a  kind  of  fowl,  a  hem,  and 
shaw,  a  shady  inclosure,  a  place  where  herns  breed. 

HERON.     (Welsh.)    A  hero. 

HERR.     (G-erman.)     Sire,  lord,  master. 

HERRICK.     The  same  as  Erick  or  Erricks  (which  see). 

HERRING-.  Hirring,  a  town  in  the  Diocese  of  Alburg,  Den- 
mark. 

HERSEY.    Local.     From  Herseavtx,  in  the  Netherlands. 

HEYDEN.  Local.  From  a  town  in  Westphalia,  also  a  town 
of  the  same  name  in  South  Jutland,  Denmark. 

HEYMAN  or  HAYMAN.     (Sax.)    A  high  man. 

HEWER,  HUER,  and  EUER.  A  person  stationed  on  the 
sea-shore,  to  watch  and  notify  the  fishermen  of  the  shoals 
of  fish ;  from  the  Saxon,  Earian,  to  show. 

HEWIT.    The  son  of  Hugh. 

HIBBARD.     Same  as  Hubbard  and  Hubert  (which  see). 

HICCOCK.     The  son  of  Hig  or  Hugh ;  cock  signifying  Um,-— 

6* 


160  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

little  Hig.     It  may  be  a  corruption   of  Haycock  (which 
see). 
HICKS.    Hig(s)  or  Hick(s).     The  son  of  Hugh.    Hig  or  Hick 
being  a  common  nick-name  for  Hugh.     Hick,  in  the  Dutch, 
signifies  a  simpleton. 

HICKEY.  The  Hukci,  GwycM,  a  word  signifying  valiant 
men,  anciently  possessed  Warwickshire,  Worcestershire,  and 
a  part  of  Grloucestershire,  England. 

HIERNE.     (Dan.)    Local    An  angle,  a  comer. 

HIGGESTBOTTOM.  A  corruption  of  the  German  name,  Ich- 
enhaum,  that  is,  oak-tree. 

HIGaiNS.  Little  Hig  or  Hugh ;  the  son  of  Hugh ;  from  Hig, 
and  the  patronymic  termination  ings;  belonging  to,  or  the 
son  of. 

HILDYARD  and  HILYARD.  Anciently  Hildheard.  HUd,  in 
Saxon,  is  a  hero  or  heroine,  as  Hildebert,  illustrious  hero, 
and  heard,  in  the  same  language,  a  pastor  or  keeper. 

HINCKLEY.  Local.  From  Hinckley,  a  town  in  Leicester- 
shire, England. 

HINDMAN  and  HINMAN.  A  domestic,  a  servant;  one  who 
has  the  care  of  herds. 

HINDON  or  HINTOK  Local  A  borough  in  Wiltshire, 
England.    Welsh,  Henton,  the  old  town,  from  Hen,  old. 

HIPPISLEY.  Local  From  the  Saxon  Hiope,  a  hip-berry, 
or  wood-rose,  and  ley,  a  field. 

HIPWOOD.  Local  The  wood  where  sweet-briars  or  roses 
grow. 

HITCHENS.    Local    A  town  in  Hertfordshire,  England. 

HO  AG.     (Welsh.)    Low  in  stature,  small 

HOARE.    White,  hoar,  gray. 

HOBART.     The  same  as  Hubert  (which  see). 


OF    FAMILY   NAMES.  161 

HOBBS.    From  Hob^  the  nick-name  for  Robert. 

HOBBY.  (Dan.)  Local.  Erom  hob^  a  herd,  and  %,  a  town ; 
the  town  of  herds  or  flocks. 

HOBKrN"S.  From  Hoh^  Eobert,  and  the  patronymic  termina- 
tion hiTis  ;  the  same  as  Robertson  or  Hobson. 

HOBSOK    The  son  of  Hob,  or  Robert. 

HODD.    From  the  Dutch  Ebudt,  a  wood;  the  same  as  Hood. 

HODGrB.    The  same  as  Roger,  which  signifies  quiet  or  strong 

counsel. 
HODGrES.    From  Hodge,  a  nick-name  of  Roger,  the  "  s"  being 

added  for  son. 

HODGrEKINS.  From  Hodge,  as  above,  and  the  patronymic 
termination  Tdns ; — changed  now  to  HotchMss. 

HODSOK    The  son  of  Hod  or  Hodge. 

HOE.  (Welsh.)  A  state  of  rest,  a  stay ;  ease,  quiet.  Hoh, 
Saxon,  the  heel.  Local,  Haut,  Fr.,  high,  the  top,  summit, 
noisy,  proud,  haughty. 

HOFF.     (Danish  and  Dutch.)    A  court,  residence,  palace. 
HOFFMAN".    (Dutch.)     From  Hoofdman,  a  captain,  a  director, 

head  or  chief  man.     Hofmxm,  from  Hof,  a  court — the  man 

of  the  court. 
HOG-ANT.     In  the  Cornish,  mortal,  in  the  Gaelic,  a  young  man, 

from  "  O^r,"  young.     Hogyn,  Welsh,  a  stripling. 
HOGARTH.     (Dutch.)     From  hoogli,  high,  and  aerd,  nature 

or  disposition. 
HOGG.     Same  as  Hoag  (which  see). 
HOGGEL.    From  the  Norman,  HugeT,  a  hill. 
HOLBECH.     Local.    A  place  in  the  county  of  Lincoln,  Eng- 
land ;  the  low  brook,  or  the  brook  in  the  ravine  or  hoUow. 

Holzheck,  the  brook  in  the  wood. 
HOLCOMBE,  or  HOLTCOMBE.    Local    (Saxon.)    A  woody 

vale,  fi-om  IIoU  or  EuUz,  a  wood,  and  ccw»6e,  a  valley. 


162  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

HOLDEN.  (Danish.)  Safe,  entire,  wealthy;  a  safe  place 
held,  protected,  defended. 

HOLLAND.  Local.  A  name  given  to  a  native  of  that  coun- 
try, w^hich  was  so  called  from  Hollow-land,  because  it 
abounds  with  ditches  full  of  water.  BaUey  is  of  opinion  that 
the  Danes  who  conquered  Holland,  so  called  it  from  an 
island  in  the  Baltic  of  the  same  name,  from  ol,  beer,  drink. 
Why  not  from  Hold  land,  the  land  taken  and  kept,  held, 
governed  ? 

HOLLENBECK.     From  Hollenbach  a  town  on  the  Ehine, 

Germany. 

HOLMAN.  A  corruption  of  Allemand,  a  German,  that  is,  a 
mixture  of  all  men,  AUe-mann. 

HOLME  and  HOLMES.  Local.  Meadow  lands  near  or  sur- 
rounded by  water,  grassy  plains ;  sometimes  an  island. 

HOLSAPPLE.  Local.  From  Hoh,  German,  a  wood,  an 
apple,  or  apfel,  an  orchard ;  apple-trees  in  or  near  a  wood. 

HOLT.  Local  A  small  hanging  wood,  from  Hultz,  Dutch, 
a  wood;  a  peaked  hiU  covered  with  wood;  a  grove  of 
trees  around  a  house. 

HOLYWELL.  Local.  A  place  of  importance  in  Flintshire, 
Wales.  Geraldus  Cambrensis  says  that  there  was  for- 
merly near  this  place  a  rich  mine  of  sUver.  Wenefride's 
Well,  from  which  the  name  of  Holy  Well  was  given  to  this 
place,  springs  from  a  rock  at  the  foot  of  a  steep  hiU.  The 
well  is  an  oblong  square  about  twelve  feet  by  seven. 

HOME  and  HUME.     Same  as  Holmes  (which  see). 
HOMER.     Greek,  "Ofivpoc,  a  hostage,  a  pledge  or  security. 
HONE.     Welsh,     Hoen,  joy.     Honan,  the  son  of  Hone. 
HOMFRAY.    From  the  French  Homme-vrai,  a  true  man. 
JEOOD.    (Sax.)    Local    From  houdt,  the  wood. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  163 

HOOaABOOM.  (Dutch.)  High-tree,  from  Hoog,  high,  and 
hoom,  tree,  either  local  or  expressive  of  stature. 

HOOPER.     A  cooper. 

HOOGSTRATEK     (Dutch.)     Local.    High-street. 

HOPE.  Local.  The  side  of  a  hill,  or  low  ground  between 
hills. 

HOPKINS.  Little  Robert,  or  the  child  of  Robert.  The  same 
as  Hobkins  (which  see). 

HOPPER.     (Sax.)    Eoppere,  a  dancer. 

HORE.    Hoar^  white,  gray.   Horr,  Local  a  ravine. 

HORKBLOWER.     A  musician,  one  that  blows  a  horn. 

HORTOIST.  Local.  A  town  in  Yorkshire  England — the  hor- 
rible  town,  or  the  town  in  the  ravine,  from  Horr,  a  ravine. 

HOSFORD.  Local.  From  Ouseford,  in  England,  the  "o" 
being  aspirated — that  is,  the  ford  or  way  of  the  river  Ouse. 

HOSKINS  or  HASKINS.  (Cor.  Br.)  From  Beschen  or  Eds- 
kyn,  the  place  of  rushes,  the  sedgy  place. 

HOTCHKISS.     The  same  as  HodgUns  (which  see). 

HOTHAM.  Assumed  from  the  place  of  residence,  Hotham  in 
Yorkshire,  probably  derived  from  the  Saxon  word  Hod,  a  hood 
or  covering,  and  ham,  a  house,  farm,  or  village,  or  a  piece 
of  ground  near  a  house  or  village,  both  of  which  terms  are 
apphcable  to  the  situation  of  Hotham.  Houtham  signifies  a 
place  at  or  near  a  wood,  from  the  Dutch  Hout,  a  wood. 

HOUG-H.  Local.  A  place  so  named  in  the  county  of  liincoln, 
England.     Saxon  and  Dutch,  Hoch,  Hoog,  and  How,  high. 

HOUGHTAILINa.  (Dutch.)  From  Eoofd,  head  or  chief, 
and  telling,  counting  or  teUing,  that  is,  head  clerk  or  account- 
ant; a  money-master,  a  money-collector.  Hough,  hauff^ 
haife,  a  pUe,  a  lump;  dell,  to  pay,  give  over.  Sax.,  daeh,n; 
Dutch,  deelen;  Ger.,  theilen,  to  separate,  give,  pay  over. 


164  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

HOUQ-HTON.  Local.  A  town  in  Lancashire,  England. 
Sax.,  from  hoog,  or  hoch,  high,  and  tow,  a  hill,  castle,  or 
town. 

HOUSE.    A  covering,  a  dwelling  place,  a  mansion. 

HOUSTON.  Local  From  the  parish  of  Houston,  in  Kenfrew- 
shire,  Scotland.  There  is  an  old  tradition,  that  in  the  reign 
of  Malcolm  IV.,  a.d.  1153,  Hugh  Padvinan  obtaiaed  a  grant 
of  the  barony  of  Kilpeter,  from  Baldwin  of  Biggar,  sheriff 
of  Lanark,  and  hence  caUed  Hughstown,  corrupted  into 
Houstoun.  These  Houstons  were  of  great  consideration  in 
-  Eenfrewshire.  ^ 

HOWAED.  WilHam,  son  of  Roger  Fitz  Yalevine,  took  the 
name  of  Howard  from  being  born  in  the  Castle  of  Howard, 
in  Wales,  in  the  time  of  Henry  I.  Spelman  derives  How- 
ard from  Hof-ward,  the  keeper  of  a  hall ;  Yestegan,  from 
Hold-ward,  the  keeper  of  a  stronghold;  Camden,  from 
Hoc7i-ward,  the  high  keeper. 

HOWE  or  HOO.  A  high  place,  a  hill;  critically,  a  hill  in  a 
valley.  De  La  Sbwe,  "  from  the  hiU,"  was  originally  the 
name  of  the  family.  They  came  to  England  with  William 
the  Conqueror.     (See  AthilL) 

HOWELL.     (Cor.  Br.)    From  Soul,  the  sun;  Greek,  "HA  of, 

JEuhill,  high,  exalted. 

HOWLETT.    A  night-bird,  an  owL 

HUBAJSTD.  Anciently  Subavde,  from  Bugh^  and  baiide,  bold- 
Jo  Zc?  Hugh. 

HUBBARD.  (Anglo-Saxon.)  A  corruption  of  Hubert,  i  e., 
bright  form,  fair  hope. 

HUBBELL.  Local.  From  Hubha,  a  Danish  chief,  and  hill — 
Hubba's-hiU  or  HubhilL  Hub  means  a  heap  or  a  lump,  and 
may  indicate  a  small  round  hill  on  the  summit  of  another. 

HUBERT.  Bright  form,  fair  hope ;  Saxon,  hiewe,  color,  form, 
beauty,  and  beort,  bright. 


OF   FAMILT   NAMES.  16i5 

HUCKSTER    A  corruption  of  De  HoghsUpe—^^  from  the  high 

steep." 

HUDDLESTON.  Local.  From  a  small  parish  by  that  name 
in  the  West  Riding  of  Yorkshire. 

HUDSON.    The  son  of  Hod  or  Roger. 

HUGET.     Little  Hugh,  the  son  of  Hugh. 

HUGGrlNS.  The  same  as  Higgins,  from  Hug,  the  nickname 
for  Hugh,  and  the  patronymic  termination  ings,  belonging 
to,  or  the  son  of. 

HUG-HES.  The  son  of  Hugh.  Aventinus  derives  Hugh  from 
Hougen,  that  is,  slasher  or  cutter.  Alfred,  in  the  year  900, 
used  Hugh  to  denote  comfort.  Hugh  in  the  Graehc,  is 
Aoidh,  which  signifies  affability,  a  guest,  a  stranger.  Hu 
suggests  the  idea  of  elevation ;  Ho,  Hu,  highness. 

HULET  or  HOWLET.  A  small  owl.  Heulaidd,  Welsh,  sun- 
like;  heuledd,  sunshine. 

HULL.  Local.  From  the  city  of  HuU,  in  Yorkshire,  England, 
which  comes  from  the  Teutonic  or  Saxon  Hulen  or  Heulen, 
to  howl,  from  the  noise  the  river  Hull  makes  when  it  meets 
there  with  the  sea.  HuU  is  an  old  word  for  a  hill ;  HuU, 
Welsh,  a  rough,  uneven  place. 

The  city  of  Hull  was  anciently  famous  for  its  good  government, 
whence  arose  this  old  saying,  called  the  Beggars'  and  Va- 
grants' Litany : 

"From  Hell,  HuU,  and  Halifax, 
Grood  Lord  deliver  us  1" 

From  HuU,  because  of  the  severe  chastisement  they  met 
with  there,  and  from  Halifax,  for  a  law  there  instantly  be- 
heading with  an  engine,  without  any  legal  proceedings, 
those  who  were  taken  in  the  act  of  stealing  cloth — either 
being  probably  more  terrible  than  HeU  itself. 

HULSE.  From  the  town  and  manor  of  Hulse,  in  G-reat  Bud- 
worth,  Cheshire,  England.     Holtz,  Ger.,  a  wood. 


166  ETYMOLOGICAL  DICTIONABY 

HUMPHREY.  (Anglo-Saxon.)  From  Hum/red,  that  is, 
house-peace — a  lovely  and  happy  name. 

HUNGERFORD.  Local  A  market-town  in  Berkshire,  Eng- 
land, on  the  Kennet.  Hunger's  pass  or  way,  so  called  from 
Hunger,  a  celebrated  Danish  leader  who  invaded  England. 

HUNN.  A  native  of  Hungary,  or  from  the  Q-erman  Hune^  a 
giant;  a  Scythian. 

HUNT  or  HONT.     It  occurs  in  Chaucer  for  huntsman. 

HUNTINGTOK  (Sax.)  ^wwfer's-<^ow,  the  mount  of  hunters ; 
the  name  of  a  shire  and  town  in  England. 

HUNTLEY.  Local.  A  town  in  Aberdeenshire,  Scotland;  the 
hunting  field. 

HURD.     (WelsL)    From  Hurdh,  a  ram. 

HURST,     (Saxon.)    Local.    A  wood,  a  grove;  finiit-bearing 

trees. 
HUSTED.    Local.    Hus,  Sax.,  a  house,  and  sted,  a  fixed  place. 
HUTCHINS.     The  child  of  Hugh.     (See  Hitchins.) 
HUTCHINSON.     The  son  of  Hitchins  or  Hutchins. 
BUTTON.     Local     A  town  in  England;    the  high  town. 

Camden  defines  the  name  to  signify  a  mutineer.     Hutain,  in 

French,  is  haughty,  proud. 
HYDE.     Local.     A  farm ;  as  much  land  as  can  be  cultivated 

with  one  plow;   a  town  of  Cheshire,  England.    Hyd,  or 

Sithe,  a  landing  place,  a  haven,  harbor. 

IDE.  The  same  as  Hide  or  Hyde  (which  see),  the  "JS""  being 
dropped  in  the  pronunciation.  Idea,  a  small  town  in  Eng- 
land. 

ILSLEY.     Local.     Isle's-ley,  the  place  on  the  island. 

INCLEDON.  Local.  Ingleton,  the  beacon  hill,  the  fire-hill, 
or  hiU  of  alarm,  so  named  from  an  ancient  custom  of  kind- 
ling a  fire  on  an  eminence,  as  a  signal  of  invasion  or  danger. 


OP   FAMILY   KAMES.  167 

ING-E.  Ing,  Saxon,  a  pasture,  a  meadow  or  watering  place, 
low  ground.  Danish,  Eng,  a  meadow,  meadow  ground, 
pasture ;  a  place  near  a  river.     Welsh,  Ing,  narrow,  a  strait 

mGLEBY  or  INGOLDSBY.  Local.  Inglesly,  the  town  of 
the  English,  or  Angles ;  perhaps  the  town  was  first  named 
at  the  time  the  Angles  first  invaded  Britain.  Ing-gil-by, 
Saxon,  the  town  near  the  brook  in  the  narrow  valley.  A 
town  in  Lincolnshire,  England. 

INGLIS  or  INGLES.  The  name  was  given  in  Scotland,  to 
distinguish  the  family  of  some  Enghsh  settler.  The  Eng- 
lishman. In  the  ancient  records  of  the  family  the  namo 
Anglicus  is  often  mentioned. 

INGHAM.  Local.  The  town  on  the  low  ground,  meadow  or 
pasture. 

INGRAHAM  or  INGRAM.  (Ger.)  Camden  derives  this 
name  from  Engelramus,  from  JEJngel,  Saxon,  angel,  and  retre, 
purity.    Pure  as  an  angel. 

INNIS  or  INNES.  The  same  as  Ennis  (which  see).  This 
family  is  of  great  antiquity  in  Scotland,  and  derives  its  sur- 
name from  the  lands  of  Innis,  a  word  supposed  to  be  de- 
rived from  the  GaeUc  Inch,  an  island,  part  of  that  barony 
being  an  island,  formed  by  the  two  branches  of  a  stream 
running  through  the  estate. 

IPRES.  Local.  A  town  in  the  Netherlands,  and  has  its  name 
from  the  small  river  Yperlee  on  which  it  stands. 

IRELAND.  A  name  given  to  a  native  of  that  island.  Ireland 
signifies  West-land,  from  the  Gaehc  lar,  the  West,  and  the 
Teutonic  land,  Welsh,  Llan,  a  clear  place,  a  lawn. 

IRETON.  Local.  From  Ireton,  a  manor  in  County  Derby, 
England.    In  Gaelic,  the  west  town  or  hill. 

IRISH.  A  native  of  Ireland,  the  country  from  which  the 
nominal  founder  of  the  family  came. 


168  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

IRON.     A  name  taken  from  the  mineral  kingdom. 

IRYINa  or  IRYINE.  Local  From  a  river  and  town  of  tlie 
same  name  in  Ayrshire,  Scotland. 

ISAAC.     (Heb.)    Laughter. 

ISHAM.  Local  Isis-ham,  that  is,  the  town  on  the  river 
Isis,  in  Northamptonshire,  England- 

ISLIP.  Local  A  village  near  Oxford,  England ;  the  name  sig- 
nifies a  place  on  the  edge  or  brink  of  the  water;  an  island. 

ISRAEL.  (Heb.)  Prevailing  in  the  Lord ;  a  name  given  to 
the  Patriarch  Jacob. 

lYES.  Local  From  a  town  named  St.  Ives,  in  the  county  of 
Huntingdon,  England.  O'Connor  derives  Ive  fi-om  Iber,  the 
place  of  Br,  the  land  of  heroes,  now  pronounced  Ive  or  Hy. 
Gaelic,  Ives. 

IVER.  (Gaelic  and  WelsL)  A  chief  or  leader.  Iver,  Danish, 
zeal,  fervor ;  ivre,  to  speak  or  aqt  with  zeal  Gaelic,  Ian 
Vhor,  a  hero ;  Welsh,  eon,  brave,  and  mawr,  great. 

JACK.    The  same  as  John. 

JACKSON.    The  son  of  Jack,  or  John. 

JACOB.     (Heb.)    He  that  supplants. 

JACOBSON.     The  son  of  Jacob. 

JAMES.     (Heb.)    The  same  as  Jacob,  he  that  supplants. 

JAMESON  or  JAMTESON.    The  son  of  James. 

JANES.    The  son  of  Jane. 

JANEWAY.    A  Genoese. 

JASON.     (Greek.)    Healing. 

JEFFERS  or  JEFFREY.  Corrupted  from  Geoffrey  or  God- 
frey, German,  from  Ood  and  fried,  God's  peace,  or  from 
Gau  and  fried,  joyful  peace.  This  name  was  borne  by  the 
chief  of  the  royal  house  of  Plantagenet. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  169 

JEMSE.    Local    A  town  in  Sweden. 

JENEINS.  From  Jenks  or  John,  and  the  patronymic  termi- 
nation ingSj  belonging  to,  or  son  of  John. 

JENKINSOK     The  son  of  Jenkins. 

JENKS.    The  same  as  Johns ;  the  son  of  John. 

JENNER.    An  old  form  for  Jbmer. 

JENNINGS.    The  same  as  Jenkins. 

JEROME.     The  same  as  Jeremiah. 

JESSUP.     Giuseppe^  Italian,  the  same  as  Joseph. 

JETTER.  (Fr.)  Jeter ^  to  overthrow;  Jouteur^  a  tilter,  fencer, 
a  swordsman. 

JEW.     A  contraction  of  Juddh,  Hebrew. 

JEWELL.  Joy,  mirth,  precious ;  a  jewel,  a  precious  stone ;  a 
name  expressive  of  fondness. 

JEWETT.  The  little  Jew,  the  son  of  a  Jew;  Jouet,  French, 
toy,  sport. 

JOB.     (Heb.)    Sorrowful;  patient 

JOBSON.    The  son  of  Job. 

JOHN.     (Heb.)     Gracious ;  God's  grace. 

JOHNSON.     The  son  of  John. 

JOLLIE.     ((Fr.  and  Sax.)    FuU  of  life  and  mirth. 

JONADAB.     (Heb.)     Liberal,  one  who  acts  a  prince. 

JONAH  and  JONAS.     (Heb.)     A  dove. 

JONATHAN.     (Heb.)     The  gift  of  the  Lord. 

JONES.  (Heb.)  The  same  as  John  or  Johns,  and  signifies 
gracious. 

JORDAN  or  JORDEN.  (Heb.)  The  river  of  judgment.  Jar- 
dain,  Gaelic,  the  western  river,  with  respect  to  the  Euphra- 
tes. The  name  is  derived  from  its  two  spring-heads,  Jor 
and  Dan. 

8 


Ho  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

JOSEPH.     (Heb.)    Increase,  addition. 

JOSSELYN  and  JOSLIN.    Local.     Jocelin,  a  town  in  France. 

JOY.     Gladness,  exhilaration  of  spirits ;  to  shout,  rejoice. 

JOYCE.     Joyous. 

JUDD.  (Heb.)  From  Juda,  praise,  confession,  and  signifies 
the  confessor  of  Grod.  Jode  or  Jood,  in  the  Dutch,  means 
Israelite^  a  Jew ;  Jute,  a  native  of  Jutland. 

JUDSON.    Thesonof  Judd. 


KAUFMAN.     (Grer.)    A  merchant,  a  trader. 

KAVANAGH.  (Celtic  or  Gaehc.)  Coamhanach,  mild,  be- 
nevolent, merciful  ;  a  friend,  a  companion.  Mr.  John 
O'Donovan  says,  that  Donnell  Cavanagh  was  so  called  from 
having  been  fostered  by  the  Coarb  of  St.  Cavan,  at  Kilcavan, 
in  the  present  county  of  Wexford,  Ireland. 

KAY.  Local.  In  Cor.  Br.,  signifies  a  hedge,  inclosure,  a  place 
of  security,  a  fortified  place.  Kai,  German,  is  a  quay,  a 
wharf. 

KAYNAED  or  KINNARD.  Local.  (Gaelic.)  From  JEm- 
naird,  a  place  in  Perthshire,  Scotland,  so  called  from  Ceann, 
the  head,  the  end,  and  aerd,  a  height  or  promontory,  from 
its  high  situation. 

KEACH.     Keech,  a  mass,  a  lump ;  a  short,  thick-set  man. 

KEAN.  (Gaelic.)  Ceann,  the  head,  the  top,  a  chief,  a  com- 
mander. 

KEBBY,  KIBBY.  Local.  (Danish.)  Kioh-by,  a  market 
town,  the  place  of  buying,  from  Kidb,  buying,  purchase,  bar- 
gain, and  hy,  a  town. 

KEEL.  A  low,  flat-bottomed  vessel  used  in  the  river  Tyne,  to 
convey  coals;  an  inn-sign;  a  harbor.  ^eZ,  local,  a  town  in 
Denmark,  a  corner,  wedge,  a  ravme. 

KEELER.    One  who  manages  barges  and  vessels. 


i 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  1*71 

K!EEK  Bold,  eager,  daring ;  bright,  fair ;  or  may  be  the  same 
as  Kean. 

KBESE,  (Dutch.)  An  abbreviation  of  Cornelius^  among  the 
Dutch.  Keys,  called  Taxiaxia,  were  ofl&cers  of  justice,  in 
olden  times,  in  the  Isle  of  Man. 

KEiaWIN.  (Cor.  Br.)  White  dog,  from  hei,  a  dog,  and 
gwyUj  white ;  figuratively,  a  hero. 

TCETTTT.  Local.  From  the  parish  and,  lands  of  Keith,  in  Banff- 
shire, Scotland.  The  name  Keith  is  said  to  be  derived  from 
the  G-aelic  Qaoth^  wind,  pronounced  somewhat  similarly  to 
Keith.  The  old  village  and  kirk  are  called  Arkeiih,  which 
may  be  a  corruption  of  the  G-aelic  Ard  Gaoth,  signifying 
"  high  wind,"  which  corresponds  to  its  locality,  which  is 
peculiarly  exposed  to  gusts  of  wind.  In  some  old  charters, 
Keith  is  written  Oith,  which  still  more  resembles  G^ith.  I 
think  the  name  is  derived  from  the  Welsh  Caethj  a  place 
surrounded,  shut  up,  inclosed,  a  deep  hollow,  a  strait.  The 
root  of  the  word  is  the  Welsh  Cau^  to  close,  to  shut  up. 
Concerning  this  family,  the  traditional  account  is,  that  they 
came  from  Germany  in  the  reign  of  the  Emperor  Otho,  and 
from  the  principality  of  Hesse,  from  which  they  were  ex- 
pelled in  some  revolution. 

The  first  person  of  this  family  of  whom  our  oldest  historians 
take  notice,  is  Eobert  De  Keith,  to  whom  Malcom  II.,  King 
of  Scotland,  gave  the  barony  of  Keith,  in  East  Lothian,  as  a 
reward  for  kilHng  Camus,  a  Danish  general,  who  then  in- 
vaded Scotland  with  a  numerous  army.  The  battle  was 
fought  at  Barry,  seven  miles  from  Dundee,  where  an  obelisk, 
called  Camud  stone,  still  preserves  the  memory  of  the  vic- 
tory, and  it  is  said  the  king,  dipping  his  three  fingers  in  the 
blood  of  the  general,  stroked  them  along  the  field  of  the 
Scotch  champion's  shield,  to  whom,  besides  the  landed  es- 
tate before  mentioned,  he  gave  the  dignity  of  Great  Mar- 
shal of  Scotland, 


172  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

KELLOGG-.  From  Chelioc,  or  KuUiag  (Cor.  Br.),  a  cock,  coil- 
eachj  in  Gaelic,  and  ceiliog,  in  Welsh,  the  G  having  the  sound 
of  K. 

KELLY.  (Gaelic  and  Welsh.)  A  grove,  generally  of  hazel 
KiM  or  CUhj  in  the  Gaelic  and  Celtic,  denotes  a  church. 

KELSO.  Local.  Derived  from  the  town  of  Kelso,  in  Rox- 
burghshire, Scotland.  Kelso  was  originally  written  Cal- 
chow  J  a  corruption  of  Chdlkheiigh,  the  chalk-hill. 

KELSEY.  Local.  A  town  in  Lincolnshire,  England.  Kelsey, 
in  Cornish  British,  signifies  the  "  dry  nech,'^  from  Kel,  a  neck, 
and  syck,  dry. 

KEMBLE  or  KIMBLE.  The  same  as  Campbell,  of  which  it  ia 
a  corruption. 

KEMP.  In  old  English,  a  soldier,  one  who  engaged  in  single 
combat. 

The  name  Kemp  is  derived  from  the  Saxon  word  to  hemp,  or 
combat,  which  in  Norfolk  is  retained  to  this  day ;  a  foot-ball 
match  being  called  a  camping  or  Tcemping ;  and  thus  in 
Saxon  a  Kemper  signifies  a  combatant,  a  champion,  a  man- 
at-arms.  In  some  parts  of  Scotland  the  striving  of  reapers 
in  the  harvest-field  is  still  called  Jeemping. 

KEMPENFELT.     Local.     The  camping  or  kemping-field. 

KEMPHALL  and  KJEMPSHALL.     The  soldiers'  quarters. 

KEMPSTER.  Prom  the  Dutch  hampen,  to  fight,  or  Tmmper^ 
a  champion. 

KEMPTOK     The  camp  town;  place  of  the  army. 

KEMYSS.  (Gaelic.)  Camus,  "  nez  retrouss6,"  a  person  whose 
nose  is  turned  upwards ;  crooked,  from  cam,  Gaelic,  crooked, 
not  straight. 

KENNAN.  Gaelic,  Ceanann  or  Ceanfhionn,  white-headed, 
bald. 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  lYS' 

KENDALL.  Local.  Derived  from  the  town  of  Kendal,  in 
Westmoreland,  England,  and  was  so  called  from  the  river 
Ken^  on  which  it  is  situated,  and  dale;  the  dale  on  the  river 
Ken. 

KENDEICK.  From  the  Saxon  KenricJc,  from  Kennen,  to 
know,  and  ric,  rich — ^rich  in  knowledge.  Bailey  derives 
this  name*  from  cewe,  bold,  and  rick^  a  kingdom — a  valiant 
ruler. 

KENKARD.  (Gaelic.)  From  Ceannard,  a  chief,  a  chieftain, 
a  leader,  a  commander-in-chief,  from  Ceann^  head,  chief,  and 
Ard^  high,  lofty. 

KENNEDY.  From  the  Gaelic  or  Celtic  words  Kean-na-ty ; 
the  head  of  the  house,  or  chief  of  the  clan.  Ceannaide  sig- 
nifies also  a  shopkeeper,  a  merchant. 

KENNICOT.  (Cor.  Br.)  From  Chmnicat,  a  singer;  Welsh, 
canu,  to  sing. 

KENT.  Local.  From  the  County  Kent,  in  England.  Camden 
derives  this  from  canton,  a  corner,  because  England  in  this 
place  stretches  itself  into  a  corner  to  the  north-east.  Cant, 
in  Welsh,  signifies,  round,  circular,  which  is  probably  the 
true  signification. 

KENWARD.     (Saxon.)     A  cow-keeper,  Kine-ward. 

KENYON.  (Welsh.)  Ceinion,  beautiful;  Cyndyn,  stubborn, 
Concenn  or  Kynan,  strong  head,  powerful,  a  leader. 

KERR.  (GaeKc,  Welsh,  and  Cor.  Br.)  Kaer,  a  castle ;  figura- 
tively, strong,  vaUant ;  car^  dear,  a  kinsman,  a  fiiend ;  Dan- 
ish, Kier,  dear,  lovely. 

KERSWELL.    Local.     The  well  where  water-cresses  grow. 

KETMAN.  (Ger.)  From  Kette,  a  chain,  and  mann, — a  chain- 
man. 

KETTLE.  Local.  From  the  parish  of  Kettle,  m  Fifeshire, 
Scotland. 


.1^4  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

KEVIK  (Celtic.)  From  Coemhghin,  the  beautiful  offspring, 
aoihMnrij  pleasant,  comely.  Caomhan,  a  noble,  kind,  and 
friendly  man. 

KEYS.  Probably  from  Keyits^  an  old  Roman  word  for  a  ward- 
en or  keeper. 

KEYSER.     (Ger.)     An  emperor. 

KED.  A  young  goat ;  also,  EM,  from  the  Saxon  Cythan,  to 
show,  discover,  or  make  known. 

KIDDER.  A  dealer  in  com,  provisions,  and  merchandize ;  a 
traveling  trader. 

KIEF.     (Dan.)    Brave,  vaKant,  stout,  bold. 

KIEL.  (G-er.)  Local  Derived  from  the  town  of  EmI,  in 
Lower  Saxony. 

KERCHER.  G-aelic,  carcar ;  Welsh,  carchar,  a  prison ;  Anglo- 
Saxon,  carJc,  a  prison ;  carker,  a  jailor. 

KIERNAN  or  KIRNAN.  Oarnan,  Gkelic,  a  heap;  figura- 
tively, a  strong  man,  a  thick-set,  stout  man.  Ceaman, 
local,  a  square,  a  quadrangle. 

KTERSTED.  (Danish.)  Local.  The  place  near  a  marsh,  from 
Kier,  a  marsh,  and  sted,  a  dwelling,  a  town. 

KILBURNE.  Local.  Derived  from  the  village  of  KUburnej 
in  Middlesex,  England,  famous  for  its  fine  weU  of  mineral 
water.  Ktl,  Dutch;  Mldej  Danish,  a  channel  or  bed  of  a 
river,  and  hence  a  stream ;  bourne,  a  fountain,  a  spring-weU. 

KILGrOUR.  (G-aelic)  Local.  The  ancient  name  of  a  parish 
in  Fifeshire,  Scotland,  so  called  from  kill,  a  church,  and  gour, 
a  hill — the  church  on  the  hill,  or  surrounded  by  hills. 

KILHAM.  Local.  A  town  in  England,  from  Ml,  as  above, 
and  ham,  a  house  or  town. 

KILLIN.  (Gaelic.)  Local.  A  place  in  Perthshire,  Scotland, 
from  Oill-Un,  that  is,  the  church  or  burying-place  on  the  pooL 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  iVS 

KBIBERLEY.  Kemperlike,  kemper,  a  veteran,  a  stout,  war- 
like man,  from  the  Dutch  hamper,  a  champion,  a  fighting- 
man.  The  name  may  apply  to  the  qualities  of  the  person, 
or  to  the  place  of  a  camp  or  battle,  that  is,  Camper-ley ; 
Qumberley  indicates  a  place  among  hills  in  a  narrow  valley, 


KINCADE,  (Graelic)  From  ceann,  head,  and  caih  or  cad^ 
battle — the  head  or  front  of  the  battle. 

KING-.  The  primary  sense  is  a  head  or  leader.  GaeHc,  ceann  / 
Welsh,  cun  and  cwn,  a  head,  a  leader.  Saxon,  cyng^  and 
nearly  the  same  in  all  the  Teutonic  dialects. 

Km GHORK  Local  A  borough  in  Fifeshire,  Scotland.  The 
name  is  derived  from  the  GaeHc  Cean-gorn  or  gorm^  "  the 
blue  head,"  from  the  adjoining  promontory.  It  is  fancifully 
suggested  by  one  writer  that  as  the  Scottish  kings  long  had 
a  residence  in  the  neighborhood,  the  name  may  have  been 
suggested  by  the  frequent  winding  of  the  king's  horn  when 
he  sallied  out  to  the  chase  in  this  neighborhood. 

KINGSTON.     Local.     The  name  of  several  towns  in  England 

— the  king's  town. 

KINLOCH.  Local  From  lands  in  Fifeshire.  Emn  Loch— 
"  the  head  of  the  lake." 

KINNAIRD  and  KENNARD.     (See  Kaynard.) 

KINNEAR.  (Gaehc.)  A  head  man  or  chief  Ceanneir,  from 
Ceann^  head,  and  etr,  an  abbreviation  of /ear,  a  man. 

KINNEY,  Gaelic,  Cine,  kindred,  a  clan,  a  tribe.  Keny  and 
Cany,  seeing,  knowing;  Welsh,  cenio,  to  see. 

KINSLEY.  (Gaelic.)  From  Ceannsallaeh,  authoritative,  com- 
manding, ruling.  Walker,  in  his  Historical  Memoirs  of  the 
Irish  Bards,  relates  the  following  story:  Eochaidh,  the  then 
monarch,  was  defeated  by  Ena,  King  of  Leinster,  at  the 
battle  of  Cruachan.  In  this  engagement  Ena  killed  Cet- 
mathch,  laureate  bard  to  the  monarch,  although  he  fled  for 


mmmmmiiiiiffmimmmm 


116  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

refuge  under  the  shields  of  the  Leinster  troops.  For  this 
base  deed  the  ruthless  king  was  stigmatized  with  the  epithet 
Ktnsealach,  that  is,  the  foul  and  reproachful  head,  which 
name  descended  to  his  posterity. 

KIPP.  J^ppe,  in  the  G-erman,  denotes  a  situation  on  or  near  a 
precipice.    Mp,  Dutch,  a  hen,  a  chicken. 

KIEBY.  Local.  The  name  of  several  small  towns  in  England, 
whence  the  surname  is  derived;  so  called  from  Kirk,  a 
church,  and  hy,  a  village  or  town. 

EJRK.  (Teut.)  Kirche,  a  church.  Gaelic,  cearcaU,  a  circle, 
the  primitive  places  of  worship  among  the  Celts  were  round, 
a  symbol  of  eternity,  and  the  existence  of  the  Supreme 
Being,  without  beginning  or  end. 

KIRKALDY.  Local.  From  KirJccaldy,  a  town  in  Fifeshire, 
Scotland,  from  KirJc,  a  church,  and  culdee,  the  worshipers  of 
God,  the  first  Christians  of  Britain,  who  were  said  to  have 
had  a  place  of  worship  there  in  ancient  times. 

KIRKHAM.  Local.  From  Kirk,  a  church,  and  ham,  a  village. 
The  name  of  a  small  town  in  England,  whence  the  surname 
originated. 

KIRKPATRICK  Local.  A  parish  in  Dumfi-iesshire,  Scot- 
land, i.  e.,  Patrick's  Church. 

KIRTLAND.  A  corruption  of  Kirkland,  that  is,  the  church 
land,  fi:om  M/rk,  a  church. 

KIRWAN.  The  name  was  O  Quirivane  imtU  the  time  of 
Queen  Elizabeth,  when  they,  with  many  Irish  houses,  were 
compelled  to  drop  the  "O,"  and  Quirivane  was  corrupted 
into  Kirwan. 

KISKEY.     (Cor.  Br.)    Blessed,  happy,  to  bless. 

KITSOK     The  son  of  Christopher  or  Kit. 

KITTS.    The  son  of  Kit  or  Christopher,  "s"  bemg  added  for 

son. 
KLING.    Q-erman  Klinge,  a  blade,  a  sword. 


OF   FAMILY  NAMES.  lV7 

KNAPP.  (Grer.)  Knappe^  a  lad,  boy,  servant,  workman;  a 
squire,  whence  Knave  and  Knapsack. 

KNEYETT.    A  corruption  of  the  Norman  name  Duvenet. 

KNICKEEBACKER.  (Dutch  and  Ger.)  Cracker-baker,  from 
Jcnacker,  a  cracker,  and  backer,  a  baker. 

KNIG-HT.  A  term  originally  applied  to  a  young  man  after  he 
was  admitted  to  the  privilege  of  bearing  arms,  by  a  certain 
ceremony  of  great  importance  called  knighting,  which  was 
generally  conferred  by  the  king. 

KNIGHTLEY.    From  KhigM,  and  ley,  a  place  or  field. 

KNOWLES  or  KNOLL.  The  top  of  a  hill.  Knowl,  in  Cor. 
Br.,  is  a  promontory,  hill,  or  eminence,  a  projection  of  hilly 
ground. 

KNOX.  Local.  GaeHc,  Cnoc,  a  little  hill;  figuratively,  a 
stout  man. 

KREBS,    Local.     A  town  in  Upper  Saxony,  Germany. 

KYLE.  Local.  Prom  a  district  of  the  same  name  in  Ayr- 
shire, Scotland.  Gaehc,  Coill,  a  wood.  The  river  Coyle 
runs  through  the  district,  whence,  perhaps,  the  name. 


LACKEY.     A  person  sent,  an  attendant  servant. 

LACY.  Local.  Derived  from  a  place  in  France  by  that  name. 
Sire  De  Lacy  came  into  England  with  William  the  Con- 
queror.    The  Lacys  afterward  settled  in  Ireland. 

LADD.     (Welsh.)     Lladd,  to  destroy. 

LAHEY.  GaeHc,  Leighidie,  a  physician.  Lagh^  Gaelic,  law, 
order ;  Fear  Lagha,  a  lawyer. 

LAING.     Scottish  dialect  for  long. 

LAIRD.  The  same  as  Lord,  from  L,  the,  and  ord  or  aird^ 
Gaehc,  supreme,  high,  eminence,  highness;  Lerad,  Laird, 
from  radh,  Gaehc,  saying,  declaring,  expressing,  affirming  au 


1*IS  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

adage  or  proverb;  giving  or  uttering  law,  from  the  verb 
dbair.     (See  Lord.) 

LAKE.     A  servant.     Latin,  lego,  to  send. 

LAM.     (Danish.)     Lame. 

LAMB.  The  name  was  probably  taken  from  the  sign  of  a  lamb 
at  an  inn,  the  young  of  the  sheep  kind ;  Welsh,  Llamer,  to 
skip;  Graelic,  Leum.  The  primitive  Celtic  or  GraeHc  Lam 
signified  armor,  as  a  dart,  a  blade,  or  sword ;  hence,  to  lam 
signified  to  disable,  injure,  maim,  from  which  we  have  lame 
and  limp. 

LAMBOURNE.  Anciently  written  in  the  Cor.  Br.  Lamhron, 
the  inclosure  of  the  round  hill ;  Ian  being  changed  into  lam, 
for  the  sake  of  the  euphony  or  ease  in  speaking ;  from  the 
"Welsh  Llan,  an  inclosure,  and  bryn,  a  hill. 

LAMBERT.     (Sax.)     From  lamh,  and  heorht,  fair — fair  lamb. 

LAMMA.  Welsh,  Llamu,  to  skip,  leap,  jump;  to  maim  or 
lam. 

LAMPORT.  (Cor.  Br.)  From  lam  or  Ian,  a  place,  and  port,  a 
harbor,  a  place  for  ships. 

LANCASTER.  Local.  A  town  and  county  of  England,  the 
castle  or  city  on  the  Loyne  or  Lan  river.  The  Britons  called 
it  Caerwerydd.     (See  Chester.) 

LANDER.  Welsh,  Lhndir.  Grlebe  lands  belonging  to  a  parish 
church,  or  land  containing  mineral  ore. 

LANDOK  (Cor.  Br.)  The  inclosed  hill  or  town,  from  Lan, 
an  inclosure,  and  dun,  a  hill  or  town.  Landen,  a  town  of 
Belgium. 

LANDSEER.  (Dutch.)  From  Landsheer,  a  lord  of  the  manor, 
from  land  and  heer,  a  master  or  lord. 

LANE.  Old  G-aeHc,  Llan£,  a  plain ;  barren,  sandy,  level  lands. 
Lane,  a  narrow  v/ay  between  hedges,  a  narrow  street,  an 
alley.     "  John  of  the  Lane." 


OF    FAMILY   NAMES.  lYO 

LANGrTOK  Local.  The  long  hill  or  town,  so  called  from  its 
oblong  form, 

LANHAM.  A  contraction  of  Lavenham^  a  town  in  Suffolk, 
England;  whence  the  family  originally  came.  Welsh, 
Llyfn^  a  smooth,  level  place. 

LANMAN.     A  lance-man,  spear-man. 

LANPHEAR.  "  Lann-feur^"  Gaelic,  grass-land ;  Lann-fear,  a 
pike-man,  Lann^  an  inclosure ;  a  house ;  a  church ;  land ; 
a  sword,     Feur,  grass ;  fear^  a  man. 

LANSma.  Local  (Dutch.)  Low,  flat  lands ;"%,"  mead- 
ows ;  alluvial  lands. 

LANTOK     (Cor.  Br.)     The  furzy  inclosure. 

LAORAN.     (G-aelic.)    A  person  too  fond  of  the  fireside. 

LARAWAY  and   LARWAY.      (Fr.)     A  corruption  of  "  Ze 

roi,^^  the  king. 
LARDNER.    A  swine-herd. 

LARKINS.  From  lark^  a  sweet,  shrill,  musical  bird,  and  Tdn^  a 
child.  Lmrcean  or  Leargan,  a  sloping,  green,  sid^  of  a  hill, 
near  the  sea,  from  Xear,  Gaelic,  the  sea. 

LAROCHE  and  LAROQUE.  (Fr.)  The  rock,  a  lonely  mass 
of  stone.     De  La  Roche,  "  from  the  rock." 

LARRY.     Supposed  to  be  an  abbreviation  of  Lawrence  (which 

see). 

LLARY.     (Welsh.)     Mild,  easy. 

LATH.     An  old  word  for  "  barn,"  in  Lincolnshire,  England. 

LATIMER.  An  interpreter.  This  name  was  first  given  to 
Wrenoc  ap  Merrick,  a  learned  Welshman,  interpreter  be- 
tween the  Welsh  and  English.  The  name  of  his  office  de- 
scended to  his  posterity. 

LATTON.  From  JSIew,  A.  S.,  and  ton;  the  town  on  the  emi- 
nence or  side  of  a  bill. 


180  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

LATTD.  From  the  same  root  as  loud,  widely  celebrated,  Latin, 
laus.  laudis,  praise;  Welsh,  clod;  Gaehc  or  Irish,  cloth;  G-er- 
man,  laut. 

LAUDER.     Local.     A  town  in  Berwickshire,  Scotland. 

LAUREL.  The  laurel  or  bayberry-tree,  dedicated  to  Apollo, 
and  used  in  making  garlands  for  victors. 

LAVENDER.  A  laundress;  Lavandiere,  French,  one  who 
washes,  from  the  Latin,  lava,  to  wash. 

LAVEROCK.  A  Scotch  word  for  a  lark;  also  Dutch  and 
Saxon. 

LAW.     (Scot.)     A  hilL     Laye,  old  French,  a  hill. 

LAWLESS.  "  Lah-lios."  Gaelic,  Lagh,  law,  order,  and  lios^  a 
court,  a  hall,  a  fortress,  a  place  where  law  is  administered. 
Lau,  Cor.  Br.,  praise,  and  lis,  a  court.     Lawless,  an  outlaw. 

LAWLEY.  (Saxon.)  A  place  in  the  hundred  of  Blackburn, 
Shropshire,  from  Law,  low,  and  ley,  a  place,  lea,  or  pasture. 

LAWRENCE.  Flourishing,  spreading,  from  Laurus,  the  lau- 
rel-tree. Su-  Robert  Lawrence,  of  Ashton  Hall,  Lancashire, 
England,  accompanied  Richard  I.  to  the  Holy  Land,  1191. 

LAWRIE.     Lawrence. 

LAWSON.  The  son  of  Law,  the  familiar  abbreviation  of  Law- 
rence. 

LAYCOCK.  Local.  A  village  on  the  banks  of  the  Avon,  in 
Wiltshire,  England.  The  name  may  be  the  same  as  Lucoch 
that  is,  Uttle  Luke. 

LEADBEATER.     A  name  of  trade,  a  worker  in  lead. 

LEARNED.  Local.  (Gaelic.)  The  green,  sheltered  place 
near  the  sea,  from  Lear^  the  sea,  and  nead,  a  sheltered  place. 
Or  it  may  be  a  name  given  for  scholarship,  "John  tlie 
Learned." 

LEAVENWORTH.  Local.  (Welsh.)  Llyvngwerth,  the 
smooth,  level  farm,  castle  or  court,  or  the  worth  or  place  on 
the  river  Leven. 


OF    FAMILY   NAMES.  181 

LEBY.    Local.    A  town  in  Denmark. 

LECHMERE.  Local.  This  family  originally  came  from  the 
Low  Countries.  Lech  is  a  branch  of  the  Ehine,  which  parts 
from  it  at  Wyke,  and  running  westward,  falls  into  the  Maes, 
before  Rotterdam ;  mere^  a  lake. 

LEE,  LEA,  and  LEY.  A  pasture,  meadow,  lands  not  plowed, 
a  common,  a  sheltered  place ;  Lee^  a  river,  a  stream,  from 
Lli,  Welsh,  a  stream. 

LEECH.    A  physician. 

LEFERRE.     (Fr.)     Le  Ferre,  the  smith.     Latm,  Fixber, 

LEG-ARD.  (N"or.  Fr.)  Le  Gard^  the  guard  or  protector. 
Probably  was  first  assumed  from  the  possession  of  some 
trusty  or  confidential  ofl&ce. 

LEG-ATT.    Legate,  an  ambassador;  Leggett,  the  son  of  Legge. 

LEIG-H  or  LEGH.  Local.  A  town  in  England,  a  pasture 
or  meadow,  the  same  as  Ley,  or  Lea.  The  frequency  of 
this  family  name  in  Cheshire,  England,  led  to  the  old 
proverb,  "  As  many  Leighs  as  fleas,  Masseys  as  asses,  and 
Davenports  as  dog's  tails." 

LEICESTER.  From  Leicester,  a  borough  town  in  England. 
Saxon,  Leagceaster,  from  Leag  or  Ley,  a  field  or  common, 
and  cester,  a  camp  or  city,  from  the  Latin  Castrum;  because, 
says  Bailey,  it  was  probably  built  hard  by  a  leag  or  com- 
mon ;  a  camp  of  the  Roman  legion.     (See  Chester.) 

LEIR  or  LEAR.  Originally  German,  and  derived  from  the 
town  of  Lear,  on  the  Ems,  in  Westphalia. 

LELAND.  Local.  Laland,  an  island  in  Denmark,  the  same 
as  Leylande,  the  ancient  manner  of  spelling  the  name,  and 
denotes  Low  lands.  In  Welsh,  Lie  is  a  place,  and  Lan  a 
church.  Lan  may  signify  any  kind  of  inclosure,  as  Owin- 
lan,  Perlan,  an  orchard,  a  word  applied  to  gardens,  houses, 
castles,  or  towns. 

LEMON.     (Fr.)     A  corruption  of  Le  Moin,  the  monk. 


182  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

LENNON.     (Gaelic.)     Leannon,  a  lover,  a  sweetheart 

LENNOX,  (G-aelic.)  Local.  From  the  County  of  Lennox, 
Scotland.  The  original  name  was  Leven-ach^  the  field  on 
the  Leven,  from  the  river  Leven,  which  flows  through  the 
county,  called  in  Latin  Levinia,  The  river  was  so  called 
from  Llyfn,  in  the  Welsh,  which  signifies  a  smooth,  placid 
stream.  Leven-achs^  for  a  while  spelt  and  written  Levenax, 
and  finally  Lennox.  Arkil,  a  Saxon,  a  baron  of  Northum- 
bria,  who  took  refuge  from  the  vengeance  of  the  Norman 
William  under  the  protection  of  Malcom  Canmore,  appears 
to  have  been  the  founder  of  the  Lennox  family. 

LENT.  Some  names  were  given  from  the  festivals  and  seasons 
of  the  year  in  which  they  were  born,  as  Noel,  Holiday, 
Pascal,  Lent,  &c. 

LEONARD.  The  disposition  of  a  lion ;  Hon-hearted ;  from 
leon,  a  Hon,  and  ard,  Teutonic,  nature,  disposition. 

LEPPARD.  A  name  probably  taken  from  a  coat  of  arms,  a 
leopard. 

LESLIE.  This  family,  according  to  tradition,  descended  fi:om 
Bartholomew  de  Leslyn,  a  noble  Hungarian,  who  came  to 
Scotland  with  Queen  Margaret,  about  the  year  1067.  He 
was  the  son  of  Walter  de  Leslyn,  who  had  assumed  this 
surname  from  the  castle  of  Leslyn,  in  Hungary,  where  he 
was  born.  Bartholomew  being  in  great  favor  with  Malcom 
Canmore,  obtained  from  that  prince  grants  of  several  lands 
in  Aberdeenshire,  which  it  is  said  he  called  Leslyn,  after  his 
own  surname.  Malcom  de  Leslyn,  who  succeeded  him,  was 
the  progenitor  of  all  the  Leslies  in  Scotland. 

Robert  Yerstegan,  in  his  Antiquities,  remarks  on  the  word  ley : 
*'  A  combat  having  taken  place  in  Scotland  between  a  noble 
of  the  family  of  Leshe  and  a  foreign  knight,  in  which  the 
Scot  was  victorious,  the  following  lines  in  memory  of  the 
deed,  and  the  place  where  it  happened,  are  still  extant : 

"  Between  the  Less-Ley  and  the  Mair, 
He  slew  the  knight  and  left  him  there." 


OF   FAMILY    NAMES.  183 

The  name  may  be  derived  from  Lessh,  a  maritime  territory 
in  Denmark. 

LESTER,  LEICESTER,  and  .LEYCESTER.  Local.  A  bor- 
ough town  in  England ;  a  camp  of  the  Roman  legion.  (See 
Leicester.) 

LEYEN.  Local.  A  river  in  Lancashire,  England,  also  a  town, 
lake,  and  river  in  Lennox,  Scotland,  whence  the  county 
derives  its  name.  (See  Lennox.)  From  the  Welsh  Ltyfn, 
smooth,  placid — the  smooth  river.  The  Graehc  lAomha- 
abhainn,  pronounced  Le-avon,  signifies  the  same  thing. 

LEVENWORTH.  (Welsh.)  Local.  From  Zevew,  the  open  or 
bare  place,  and  worth,  a  farm,  castle,  or  mansion,  or  tlie 
worth  on  the  river  Leven. 

LEYEQUB.     (Fr.)    A  bishop. 

LEYERET.     A  hare  in  the  first  year  of  its  age. 

LEYY.  (Heb.)  The  same  as  Levi,  joined,  united,  coupled; 
Jacob's  third  son. 

LEWES.  Local.  An  ancient  town  in  Sussex,  England,  de- 
rived from  the  Welsh  Lluaws,  a  multitude,  a  populous  place. 
This  town  was  formerly  surrounded  by  walls,  vestiges  of 
which  are  stiU  visible,  and  on  the  summit  of  a  hill  are  the 
remains  of  its  ancient  castle. 

LEWIS.  In  the  Fr.,  Louis  ;  Latin,  Ludovicus  ;  Teutonic,  Lud- 
wig  or  Leodwig,  from  the  Saxon  Leod,  the  people,  and  wic, 
a  castle — the  safeguard  of  the  people.  Lluaws,  Welsh,  sig- 
nifies a  multitude. 

LEWKNOR.  Local.  A  corruption  of  Levechenora,  the  de- 
nomination of  one  of  the  hundreds  of  Lincolnshire,  England. 

LEWTHWAITE  or  LOWTHWAITE.  (Anglo-Saxon.)  From 
thwaite,  a  piece  of  ground  cleared  of  wood,  and  lowe,  a  hill, 
law,  a  hill  or  eminence ;  in  Saxon,  Hleive. 

LIGtHTBODY.  a  writer,  somewhere,  derives  this  name  from 
Licht,  a  dead  body,  a  tomb,  and  Bodee,  contracted  from 


184  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

Boadicea, — ^meaning  the  tomb  or  grave  of  this  British 
Queen ;  a  locahty.  The  name,  however,  is  more  hkely  to 
have  originated  from  bodily  peculiarity. 

LIGHTFOOT.  A  name  given  on  account  of  swiftness  in  run- 
ning, or  expertness  in  dancing ;  one  who  is  nimble  or  active. 

LILIENTHAL.  (G-er.)  Local.  The  vale  of  hhes,  from  Z*7ie,  a 
lily,  and  thalj  a  vale ;  so  Blumenthal,  the  vale  of  flowers.  A 
town  in  Bremen,  Hanover. 

LILLY.  A  beautiful  flower.  LUlle,  in  the  Welsh,  the  place  by 
the  river  or  stream,  from  LU,  a  stream,  and  Lie,  a  place. 
Liu,  an  army,  a  troop ;  Llellu,  the  place  of  the  army.  Li 
the  Cornish-British  Lhy  is  a  troop,  a  company  of  horsemen, 
and  le  or  li,  a  place. 

LINCOLN".  Local.  From  Lincoln  in  England.  The  name  is 
derived  from  Lin  in  the  G-aeUc,  Welsh,  and  Cor.  Br.,  which 
signifies  a  pool,  pond,  or  lake,  and  coin,  the  ridge  or  neck  of 
a  hm,  so  called  from  its  situation,  as  it  occupies  the  top  and 
side  of  a  steep  hUl  on  the  river  Witham,  which  here  divides 
into  three  streams. 

LIND.  Local.  (Swedish,  Sax.,  Dan.,  and  Dutch.)  A  place 
where  the  lime  or  linden-trees  grow. 

LINDALL.  Local.  From  Lin,  a  brook,  a  lake,  and  ddl,  a 
dale. 

LINDFIELD.    Local.     The  field  of  linden  or  Hme-trees. 

LINDO.     (Spanish.)     Neat,  spruce,  fine. 

LLNGr.  (Teutonic.)  English,  long,  heath;  also,  a  species  of 
long  grass ;  a  long,  slender  fish. 

LINDSAY  or  LINDSEY.  Local.  Sir  William  Dugdale  says 
this  surname  is  local,  and  was  first  assumed  by  the  proprietors 
of  the  lands  and  manor  of  Lindsay,  in  the  county  of  Essex, 
England.  One  of  the  Lindsays  having  contracted  a  friend- 
ship with  Malcom  Canmore,  when  in  England,  went  with 


OF    FAMILY   NAMES.  185 

him  to  Scotland,  and  was  the  progenitor  of  the  Lindsays  in 
that  country. 
The  eastern  part  of  Lincohishire  was  originally  called  Lindsei/j 
from  the  place  abounding  with  linden-trees. 

LINN  or  LINNE.  Local.  A  pool,  pond,  or  lake.  "Welsh, 
Uyn ;  Cor.  Br.,  lyn ;  Gaelic,  Zmwe,  a  pond. 

LINNET.    A  singing  bird. 

LINTON.  Local.  Erom  Lin,  a  lake  or  pool,  and  toiij  a  town. 
A  parish  in  Eoxburgshire,  Scotland. 

LIPPENCOT.  Local.  Lippe,  a  German  principality  and  town 
on  the  river  Lippe.  Cote,  side  or  coast.  lAban,  Saxon, 
Leben,  German,  to  abide,  to  dwell,  and  co%  a  cottage. 

LISLE.     (Fr.)     Local.     Vish,  an  island. 

LISMOEE.  Local.  A  parish  in  Argyleshire,  Scotland.  The 
name  signifies  the  large  gardens.  Lis  or  lAos,  Celtic,  a  gar- 
den, and  mor,  large. 

LITCHFIELD.  From  the  Saxon  lich,  a  dead  carcase,  and 
field,  because  a  great  many  suffered  martyrdom  there  in  the 
time  of  Diocletian.  The  name  of  a  bishop's  see  in  Stafford- 
shire. 

LITTLER.  Derived  from  the  town,  village,  or  hundred  of  Lit- 
tle Over,  corrupted  to  Littler,  in  the  county  of  Cheshire, 
England,  where  the  family  resided  in  the  time  of  Edward  I. 

LIYERMORE.  (Welsh.)  From  Tleufer,  a  Hght,  and  mawr, 
great — the  great  light.  A  name  given  to  the  first  Christian 
king  of  Britain,  hence  called  by  the  Romans  Lucius,  which 
has  in  the  Latin  the  same  signification. 

LIVINGSTONE.  Local.  A  barony  in  West  Lothian,  Scot- 
land, so  named  from  one  Livingus  Uving  there  in  1124:; 
hence  Livingston. 

LIZARD.  (Gaehc.)  Local.  The  high  fortress,  from  lios,^  a 
fort,  an  inclosure,  or  garden,  and  ard,  high. 


186  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

LLARY.     (WelsL)    Mild,  easy. 

LLOYD  or  LHUYD.     (Welsh.)     Gray  or  brown. 

LOBDALE,  (Graelic.)  Local.  Luh^  bending,  curving,  and 
dail^  a  narrow  vale  or  meadow. 

LOCKMAN.     A  Scottish  word  for  the  public  executioner. 

LOGrAN".  (Graelic)  An  inclosed  plain  or  low-lying  place.  If 
the  residence  of  a  Briton  was  on  a  plain,  it  was  called  Lann^ 
from  Lagen  or  Logen  ;  if  on  an  eminence,  it  was  termed  dun, 

LONSDALE.  Local.  Derived  from  the  town  of  Lonsdale,  in 
Westmoreland,  England,  so  named  from  the  river  Lon  on 
which  it  is  situated,  and  dale — the  dale  on  the  Lon, 

LOOMIS  or  LOMMIS.  (Welsh.)  Local  From  lom,  bare, 
naked,  exposed,  and  maes,  a  field,  a  name  of  place — ^the 
place  in  the  open  field. 

LOPPE.    Local     An  uneven  or  winding  place,  a  bend. 

LORD.  A  term  of  civil  dignity,  a  master,  ruler,  the  proprietor 
of  a  manor,  derived  from  the  Anglo-Saxon  ord,  which  comes 
from  oredj  a  governor,  with  the  prefix  of  the  letter  L,  le, 
denoting  the  person  or  place.  Graelic,  ard,  ord,  high,  lofty, 
the  prime  chief,  superior.  Lord  has  been  derived  firom  JERa- 
ford,  which  is  compounded  of  Blaf,  a  loa^  and  ford,  to 
give, — a  bread-giver. 

LORIMER     A  maker  of  bits  or  bridles. 

LOSSIE.  Local  A  river  of  Scotland,  in  Elgin  or  Moray- 
shire. 

LOUDOUN.  From  the  parish  of  Loudoun  in  Ayrshire, 
Scotland.  The  name  is  compounded  of  Law  and  dun, — a 
pleonasm,  as  both  words  signify  a  hill     The  hill-hill 

LOUGHLIK  The  ancient  Britons  or  Welsh  called  the  Baltic 
Sea  Lychlyn,  and  the  Scandinavian  sea-pirates  who  infested 
the  coasts  of  Britain  received  the  same  appellation.  Norway 
is  called  Llychlyn. 

LOUTH.     (Br.  and  Welsh.)    From  lowdh,  a  garden. 


OF   FAMILY    NAMES.  187 

LOVE.     (Danish.)     A  Hon. 

LOVEL.  The  original  family  name  of  Lovel  was,  in  olden 
times,  Percival,  so  called  from  a  place  in  Normandy,  until 
Asceline,  its  chief,  who  flom-ished  in  the  early  part  of  the 
twelfth  century,  acquired  from  his  violent  temper  the  sou- 
briquet of  Lupus  (the  Wolf).  His  son  William,  Earl  of 
Yvery,-was  nicknamed  Lupellm,  the  httle  wolf,  wliich  in 
after  times  was  softened  into  Lupe\  and  at  last  to  Luvel  or 
Lovel. 

LOWE.    AhiU. 

LOWER.     The  same  as  Burder.     Louw  or  low  is  a  Scotch 

word  for  flame  or  fire. 
"  Low-bellers,"  according  to  Blount,  "  are  men  who  go  with  a 

light  and  a  bell ;  by  the  sight  thereof  birds  sitting  on  the 

ground  become  somewhat  stupefied,  and  so  are  covered 

with  a  net,  and  taken." 

LOWRY  or  LOURY.  Signifies  in  Scotch  a  crafty  person,  or 
one  who  lowers,  that  is,  contracts  his  brow ;  hence  a  "  lowry 
dm/^ — cloudy. 

LUCAS.     The  same  as  Luhe,  luminous.     Lucas,  arising  to  him. 

LUDBROCK.     (Dutch.)     Leather  or  hairy  breeches. 

LUDLOW.  Local.  From  the  ancient  town  of  Ludlow,  in 
North  Wales.  Llud^  in  Welsh,  signifies  whatever  connects 
or  keeps  together,  the  same  as  caw.  Llud^  a  prince  of  the 
Britons,  a  commander ;  Welsh,  Llywydd,  and  lowe. 

LUMLEY.  (G-aelic  and  Welsh.)  The  bare  place,  from  hm, 
bare,  and  Z?e,  a  place. 

LUSHER.     (Dutch.)     Lauscher,  a  hider,  a  skulker. 

LUSK  or  LOSCE.  (Welsh.)  A  burning  or  searing.  Gaelic, 
Loisg^  to  burn. 

LUTHER.  The  widely  famed  or  celebrated,  derived  from  the 
German  loth  or  laut,  loud,  famed,  fortunate,  and  er,  honor — 
'^fortune  and  honor."     Lauter,  Ger.,  bright,  clear,  pure. 


188  ETTMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

LYNCH.    A  strip  of  greenwood  between  the  plowed  lands  in 
the  common  field ;  a  small  hanging  wood. 


MABAK     (Welsh.)     A  chHd,  a  bairn. 

MAOAULEY  or  MAOAULA.      (Celtic.)      The  son  of  the 

rock. 

MACE.    A  staff  borne  as  an  ensign  of  office. 

MACKLrN".    The  same  as  McLean  (which  see). 

MAOLAY.     (Gaelic.)    The  son  of  Clay  (which  see). 

MACONOCHIE.  The  son  of  Conochie  or  Dmican,  a  name 
borne  by  the  chieftain  of  the  Campbells. 

MADDOCK.  (WelsL)  The  same  as  Madoc,  a  proper  name 
common  among  the  Welsh,  from  mad,  good,  and  the  termi- 
nation oc  or  og,  the  same  as  the  termination  y  or  ous  in 
English.  The  terminations  c  and  ac,  denote  fixedness,  force, 
plenitude.  Og,  in  its  simple  form,  signifies  animation,  activ- 
ity ;  also,  possessing  that  which  precedes  it ;  oc,  greatness, 
grandeur;  ox,  quickness,  promptitude. 

MADISOH.     The  son  of  Mathew  or  MatHda. 

MAGOON.  (Gaelic.)  A  corruption  of  Macgowan,  which  sig- 
nifies the  son  of  the  smith,  from  Mac,  son,  and  gow,  a  smith  ; 
or  it  may  be  the  same  as  McCoun,  from  Mac,  son,  and 
ceann,  a  head  or  chief— the  son  of  the  chief. 

MAGUIRE  or  M'GUIRE.  (Gaelic.)  The  son  of  Ouaire, 
which  is  the  Gaelic  for  Godfrey.  Guaire  was  son  of  Alpin, 
King  of  Scotland. 

MAHOMET.     (Turkish.)     Glorified. 

MAHON.     (Celtic  or  Gaelic.)     A  bear. 

MAIGNY.  (Fr.)  Local.  An  old  province  of  France  lying  to 
the  east  of  Bretagne,  whence  the  name  came. 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  189 

MAINARD  or  MAYNARD.  (Ger.)  Of  a  powerful  disposi- 
tion, stout-hearted.  Maynliard  was  one  of  the  barons  who 
went  into  England  with  William  the  Conqueror,  and  whose 
name  is  in  the  roU  of  Battle  Abbey. 

MAIN  or  MAYNE.  Local.  From  a  French  province  of  that 
name.  Magne,  great,  large,  rich,  powerful,  the  same  as 
magnus  in  Latin. 

MAITLAND.     Local.    A  tract  of  flat,  meadow  land. 

MAJOR.    An  ofiBcer  next  in  rank  above  a  captain. 

MALLARD.  (Belgic.)  A  wild  drake.  MeaUardj  local,  Graelic, 
a  high  mound,  a  hiU  or  eminence,  from  meall,  a  hill,  and  ard, 
high. 

MALLERY.  (Fr.)  A  corruption  of  the  French  iiaZZiewre;  in 
Latin,  Malus  Leporarius — a  name  given  for  ill  hunting  the 
hare,  according  to  Camden. 

MALLET  or  MALET.  This  name  has  been  ascribed  by  some 
to  a  place  so  termed  in  Normandy,  and  by  others  to  the 
courageous  blows  of  the  family  in  battle.  MaUeiis,  Maule, 
Mall,  and  Mallet  was  one  of  the  offensive  weapons  of  a  well- 
armed  warrior,  being  generally  made  of  iron,  and  used  to 
destroy  by  pounding  or  bruising  the  enemy  through  or 
under  the  armor,  that  could  not  be  penetrated  by  edged  or 
pointed  weapons,  Edward  I.  was  called  Malleus  Scotorum. 
All  the  families  of  this  name  in  England  trace  their  descent 
from  the  renowned  William  Lord  Mallet  de  Graville,  one  of 
the  great  barons  who  accompanied  William  the  Conqueror. 

MALMESBURY.  From  the  town  of  Malmesbury  in  Wilt- 
shire, England,  said  to  be  so  called  by  Malmutius,  a  king 
of  the  Britons.  It  was  anciently  called  Maidulphesburgh, 
from  Maidulph,  a  Scottish  saint  and  hermit  who  built  an 
abbey  there,  and  opened  a  school.  Bede  writes  it  Adelmes- 
hirig,  from  Adelm,  the  scholar  of  Maidulph ;  others  derive  it 
from  a  part  of  the  names  both  of  the  scholar  and  teacher. 


190  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

MALONE.  One  of  the  descendants  of  tlie  house  of  O'Connor, 
Kings  of  Connaught,  being  tonsured  in  honor  of  St.  John, 
was  called  Maol  Eoin — Bald  John,  from  Maol,  bald  or  ton- 
sured, and  jBbm,  John,  and  this  was  corrupted  into  Malone. 

MANDEYILLE.  From  the  Latin  De  Magna  villa,  that  is,  of 
or  from  the  great  town. 

MANK  (G-er.)  Gentleman  or  master,  the  same  as  Jfferr. 
Man^  in  the  Welsh,  signifies  freckled  or  spotted;  also,  a 
spot,  a  place. 

MANNERING  or  MANWARING.  A  corruption  of  Mesnil- 
warin,  Welsh,  fi-om  Mesnil  or  Maenol,  a  farm. 

MANNERS.  (Fr.)  From  Manoir,  and  that  from  the  Latin 
Manere,  to  stay  or  to  abide.  Lands  granted  to  some  mil- 
itary man  or  baron  by  the  king,  a  custom  brought  in  by  the 
Normans. 

Manners,  first  Earl  of  Rutland,  soon  after  his  creation,  told  Sir 
Thomas  More  that  he  was  too  much  elated  by  his  prefer- 
ment, and  really  verified  the  old  proverb,  "  Honores  mutant 
Mores.^^ 

"  Nay,  my  lord,"  retorted  Sir  Thomas,  "  the  proverb  does  much 
better  in  English,  '  Honors  change  Manners.'  " 

It  is  the  opinion  of  Camden  that  this  family  received  its  name 
from  the  village  of  Manor,  near  Lanchester,  in  Durham, 
England. 

MANNUS.  A  god  celebrated  among  the  Germans  as  one  of 
their  founders. 

MANSER.  (Dutch.)  From  Mansoir,  a  male  issue,  a  boy. 
Mansaer,  in  the  Welsh,  is  a  stone-mason. 

MANSFIELD.  Local.  From  a  town  in  Nottinghamshire, 
England,  of  the  same  name,  so  called  from  the  Saxon  marir- 
rian,  to  traffic,  Siudfield — a  place  of  trade. 

MANSLE.  Local  A  town  of  France  in  the  province  of 
Angoumois. 


OF    FAMILY   a  AMES.  191 

MAR.  Local  From  the  district  of  Mar,  in  Aberdeenshire^ 
Scotland.  J/ar,  Welsh,  activity ;  Maor^  Gaelic,  an  ofl&cer 
of  justice. 

MARCH.  A  boundary,  a  limit;  the  boundary-lines  between 
England,  Scotland,  and  Wales,  were  called  "  The  Marches." 
Lords  Marches  were  noblemen  who  anciently  inhabited, 
guarded,  and  secured  these  marches. 

MARCHANT.     Fr.,  Marchand,  a  merchant. 

MARK.     The  same  as  Marcus^  a  field ;  polite,  shining. 

MARSHALL.  A  name  of  ofi&ce — ^master  of  the  horse,  an- 
.ciently,  one  who  had  command  of  all  persons  not  above 
princes.     Teut.,  Marschalk;  French,  Mareschal. 

MARSH.  (Teutonic.)  MarescJie,  Morass,  a  fen,  a  tract  of 
low,  wet  land. 

MARSHMAN.     One  dwelling  near  a  marsh. 

MARTIN.  This  name  may  be  derived  fi:om  the  Latin  martiuSj 
warlike,  from  Mars^  the  God  of  War.  In  the  Gaelic,  Trior  is 
great,  and  duin,  a  man.     Morduin,  a  chief,  a  warrior. 

MARYEN.     Gaehc,  Morven,  a  ridge  of  very  high  hills. 

MASENFER.     German,  Messenfer,  a  great  fair  or  market  for 

merchants. 

MASSEY  or  MASSIE.  Local.  From  the  town  and  lordship 
of  Massey,  near  Bayeux,  in  Normandy. 

MASSENGER.  A  corruption  of  the  French  messager,  a  mes- 
senger or  bearer  of  dispatches. 

MASTEN  or  MOSTYN.  (Welsh.)  Local.  A  place  or  house 
inclosed,  from  Maes,  a  field,  and  din,  inclosed,  fortified. 
Moestuin,  in  the  Teutonic  and  Dutch,  signifies  a  garden,  a 
place  cultivated.  The  Gaehc  dun,  and  the  Welsh  din,  a 
fortified  liill  or  fort,  are  synonymous.  The  Saxon  tun  sig- 
nifies an  inclosure,  a  garden,  a  viflage,  a  tovni,  and  tun  or 
<wm,  in  Dutch,  a  garden,  a  protected  place. 


192  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

Camden  relates,  that  in  the  time  of  Henry  YIII.,  an  ancient 
worshipful  gentleman  of  Wales  being  called  at  the  panel  of 
a  jury  by  the  name  of  Thomas- Ap- William- Ap-Thomas-Ap- 
Hoel-Ap-Euan  Vaughn,  etc.,  was  advised  by  the  judge  to 
leave  that  old  manner.  Whereupon,  he  afterward  called 
himself  Mostyn,  according  to  the  name  of  his  principal  house, 
and  left  that  surname  to  his  posterity.  Mostyn^  a  village  in 
Flintshire,  Wales.  On  Mostyn  hill,  in  Flintshire,  Wales,  is 
a  remarkable  monument  to  the  sun,  a  place  of  Druid  wor- 
ship. 

MATHER.  Welsh,  Madur,  a  benevolent  man.  Medwr,  a 
reaper.     Mathair,  in  Graelic,  is  a  mother. 

MATTHEW.     (Heb.)    The  gift  of  the  Lord 

MATTISON.     The  son  of  Matthew. 

MATTER.     (Ger.)    A  wall 

MAXWELL.  One  Macchus,  in  tihe  eleventh  century,  obtained 
lands,  on  the  Tweed,  in  Scotland,  from  Prince  David,  to 
which  he  gave  the  name  of  Macchm-viUe,  since  corrupted  to 
Maxwell.  Maxwell  is  McLcsual,  in  Gaehc,  from  Mac,  son, 
and  sua\  small,  Httle. 

MAY.  Probably  given  to  a  child  bom  in  that  month.  May^ 
in  the  Saxon,  is  a  daisy,  a  flower ;  the  fifth  month  in  the 
year,  beginning  with  January.  GaeUc,  rnai  or  Tuaith,  good, 
pleasant,  fruitful ;  3Iad,  Welsh.  From  Ma  we  have  inai, 
the  earth,  the  producer ;  ma,  mother,  tender,  kind. 

MAYO.    Local.     The  name  of  a  county  and  town  in  Ireland, 
the  plain  near  the  water,  from  Moi  or  Moy,  Gaelic,  a  plain, 
Moy,  a  river,  and  ad,  a  region  or  territory ;  the  region  or 
^    tract  on  the  river  Moy. 

McAllister  or  McCALLISTER.  The  son  of  Alister,  the 
Gaelic,  for  Alexander.  Callester,  in  the  Welsh,  signifies  a 
flint,  figuratively,  an  invincible  man.  Galiuster,  in  Cor.  Br., 
expresses  might,  power. 

McANDREW     The  son  of  Andrew. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  193 

Mc ARDLE  or  McCardle.  (Graelic.)  From  Mcic,  son,  and  arda\ 
literally,  the  son  of  the  high-rock,  figuratively,  high  prowess 
or  valor. 

McBAIN.  The  son  of  Bain.  Bean  or  Ban^  white,  Donald 
Bean,  Donald  the  white. 

McBRIDE.     The  son  of  Bride  (which  see). 

McCABE.  The  son  of  Cabe.  Caob,  G-aelic,  a  bough,  branch, 
a  clod,  lump,  a  bit  or  piece  of  any  thing.  Ceap,  the  top  of  a 
hill,  a  sign  set  up  in  time  of  battle. 

McCAMUS.     The  son  of  Camus  (which  see). 

McC  ALLEN".  The  son  or  descendants  of  Callen  or  Colin.  This 
name  was  given  to  the  descendants  of  Sir  Cohn  Campbell, 
or  Cohn  the  Great,  who  flourished  toward  the  end  of  the 
thirteenth  century,  at  Lochore,  Scotland. 

McCarthy.     The  son  of  Carrihachj  an  Irish  chieftain,  who 
lived  in  the  eleventh  century. 

McCLIS.    From  Mac,  son,  and  Clis,  active,  quick,  ingenious. 

McCOUN".  (GaeHc.)  From  Mac,  son,  and  Ceann,  head  or 
chief;  the  son  of  the  chief. 

McCRACKIN  or  McCHARRAIGIN.  The  son  of  the  rock, 
figuratively,  the  son  of  the  brave. 

McCREE.  (GaeHc.)  From  Mac,  son,  and  Righ,  king, — ^the 
king's  son;  or  from  cridhe,  the  heart,  figuratively,  brave, 
bold,  generous ;  also  a  term  of  endearment. 

McCULLOUGH.  The  son  of  Cullough.  CuUach,  GaeHc,  a 
boar,  figuratively,  a  brave  man. 

McDHOIL  or  McDOWELL.  (GaeHc.)  The  son  of  DoweU  or 
DougaU,  the  dark  stranger.  From  dhu,  black,  and  gaU,  a 
native  of  the  low  country  of  Scotland ;  any  one  ignorant  of 
the  GaeHc  language ;  a  foreigner,  a  stranger.  The  same  as 
McDougaU. 

McDERMOT.     The  son  of  Dermot  (which  see). 
9  . 


194  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

McDonald  or  McDOISTELL.  This  family  was  for  many  cen- 
turies reputed  the  most  powerful  of  any  in  the  Highlands  of 
Scotland,  being  styled  ^^King  of  the  I^es/'  for  many  gener- 
ations, during  which  they  were  successful  in  asserting  their 
independence.  Somerled,  Thane  of  Argyle,  flourished  about 
the  year  1 140,  and  was  the  ancestor  of  all  the  McDonalds.  He 
married  the  daughter  of  Olans,  Lord  of  the  Western  Isles, 
whereupon  he  assumed  the  title  of  ^^  King  of  the  Isles"  He 
was  slain,  in  1164,  by  Walter,  Lord  High  Steward  of  Scot- 
land. Donald,  from  whom  the  clan  derived  their  name,  was 
his  grandson. 

McDONNOTJGH.  (GaeHc.)  The  son  of  Donnach,  the  same 
as  Duncan,  safe,  able  to  defend. 

McDOUGALL.  The  son  of  DougaU,  that  is,  the  black  stranger, 
the  foreigner,  or  native  of  the  Lowlands. 

McDUFF.  (Graelic.) .  The  son  of  the  captain,  from  Mac,  son, 
and  JDuff,  a  captain. 

McFADDEN.  (Celtic.)  The  son  of  Faddan.  Fada,  GaeHc, 
taU ;  Phaudeen,  Gaehc,  "  little  Patrick,"  and  Mac,  son ;  Mac 
Phaudeen,  the  son  of  little  Patrick. 

McFARLAND.  The  son  of  Pharlan,  or  Partholan,  the  Graelic 
for  Bartholomew.  Malcom  McFarlane,  descended  from 
Alwyn,  Earl  of  Lennox,  founder  of  the  clan  McFarlane, 
lived  about  1344,  in  the  reign  of  Malcom  IV.,  King  of  Scot- 
land. 

Tradition  gives  the  following  fabulous  origin  of  the  name.  A 
nephew  of  one  of  the  old  Earls  of  Lennox,  having  kiUed,  in 
a  quarrel,  his  uncle's  cook,  was  obliged  to  flee  the  country. 
Returning  after  many  years,  he  built  a  castle  upon  an  island 
above  Inversnaid,  in  the  Highlands,  where  he,  and  the  island 
after  him,  received  the  appellation  of  Farland.  Hence 
McFarland,  the  son  of  him  who  came  from  the  Far-land. 

McFERSOK    The  same  as  McPherson. 

McGrlNNIS.  (Gaelic.)  The  son  of  Oinnis,  dne,  a  race,  ow, 
numerous,  gen  or  gin,  to  beget,  a  numerous  clan  or  race. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  195 

McaOOKEN  or  McG-UCKEN.  (GaeUc  and  Celtic.)  From 
Mac,  a  son,  and  Ougan,  a  bud  or  flower.  This  name  is  the 
same  in  the  Welsh  or  Cor.  Br. 

McGOWAN.  (Gaelic.)  From  Gow,  a  smith;  the  son  of  a 
smith,  Smithson. 

McGRATH  and  McGRAW.  (Celtic  or  Gaelic.)  From  Oradh, 
love,  fondness,  virtue,  prosperity.  Mac  and  rath,  the  son  of 
prosperity. 

McGregor.  The  descendants  of  Gregor,  who  was  the  son 
of  Alpin,  King  of  Scotland.  A  family  of  great  antiquity, 
and  of  distinguished  ancestors.     (See  Gregor.) 

McGUIRE.  The  son  of  Guaire  or  Godfrey.  Ouaire  was  a 
son  of  Alpin,  King  of  Scotland. 

McHARD  or  McHARG.  (Welsh,  Cor.  Br.,  and  GaeUc.)  The 
son  of  the  brave  or  the  handsome.     Mac  'Arg. 

McILDOEY.  'Evovn.  Mac,  Eon,  giUe,  a  youth,  and  dhu,\>h.Qk\ 
the  son  of  the  black  youth. 

McILDOUNEY.  (Gaelic.)  From  Afac,  son,  gille,  a  youth,  and 
doinne,  brownishness ; — the  son  of  the  brown-haired  youth. 

McILHENNY.     (GaeHc.)     The  son  of  the  old  man. 

McILRO Y.  (Gaelic.)  From  Mac,  gille,  and  ruadh,  red-haired  j 
— the  son  of  the  red-haired  young  man. 

McINNIS.     The  son  of  Innis. 

McINTOSH.  The  son  of  the  leader  or  first  Tosh,  and  Toshichj 
signify  the  beginning  or  first  part  of  any  thing ;  so  Toshich 
came  to  denote  the  general  or  leader  of  the  van.  The 
Mclntoshes  derive  themselves  from  McDuff,  who  obtained 
his  right  from  Malcom  Canmore. 

McINTYRE.  (GaeUc.)  The  son  oiKintyre; — a  promontory, 
or  headland,  firom  Cean,  head,  and  tir,  land.  Also  the  son 
of  the  carpenter. 

McKAY.     The  same  as  McKie  (which  see). 


196  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

McKELLY.     The  son  of  KeUy  (which  see). 

McKENSIE.  (Gaelic.)  The  son  of  the  chief,  head,  or  first. 
Same  as  McKenneth ;  the  son  of  Kenneth,  signifying,  chief, 
head,  or  first. 

McKIBBEN.  (Celtic.)  From  Mac,  son,  and  Ceolbinn,  the 
top  of  the  hill. 

McKIE.  (Celtic  or  Graelic.)  The  son  of  a  dog;  figuratively, 
the  son  of  a  champion.  The  Britons,  Celts,  and  Grauls,  ap- 
plied the  names  of  various  animals  to  their  heroes,  indicative 
of  strength,  endurance,  courage,  or  svriftness.  This  name 
is  derived  from  Mac,  son,  and  cu,  hei,  or  hi,  a  wolf-dog.  The 
common  hound  was  called  Gayer. 

McKINNOIsr.  Originally  McFingon,  the  son  of  Fjngon,  who 
was  the  youngest  son  of  Alpin,  King  of  Scotland. 

McKIRNAK  The  son  of  Kiernan.  Karnon,  Cor.  Br.,  the 
high  rock;  Ouirnin,  Celtic,  a  bush;  Cuirnean,  G-aeHc,  a 
smaU  heap  of  stones. 

McLAUG-HLIN.  The  son  of  Laughlin,  or  the  expert  sailor. 
See  Laughlin. 

McLAUEIN.     The  son  of  Ldbhruinn,  or  Lawrence. 

McLEAN".  MacGillean.  From  a  Highland  chieftain  of  the 
name  of  Gillean,  who  was  the  progenitor  of  this  fanjily. 

This  Gillean  was  a  celebrated  warrior,  and  was  called  Gillean- 
ni-Tuoidh,  from  his  ordinary  weapon,  a  battle-ax,  which  in 
the  Gaehc  is  Tuoidh,  which  his  descendants  wear  to  this 
day  in  their  crest,  betwixt  a  laurel  and  a  cypress  branch. 
The  posterity  of  this  Qillean  were  therefore  called  Mac  CHI- 
lean,  in  aU  ancient  documents,  and  now  of  modern  date 
McLeans.  "  Magh  Leamhna"  in  the  County  of  Antrim,  the 
estate  of  the  McLeans  or  Macklins. 

McLEOD  or  McCLEOD.  From  Mac,  son,  and  Clode,  fi:om 
Claudius,  the  second  emperor  who  invaded  Britain.  Church- 
ill says  he  was  named  Claudius  because,  through  fear  of 
death,  he  buried  himself  alive,  being  plucked  by  the  heels 
out  of  a  hole  to  be  set  upon  the  throne. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  197 

McMAHON.     (G-aelic.)     The  son  of  a  bear ;  a  hero. 

McMANUS.  The  son  of  Manus  or  Magnus,  the  great,  or  re- 
nowned. 

McMARTIN.  The  son  of  Martin,  or  the  warlike. 

McMASTER.  The  son  of  Master. 

McMULLIK  ThesonofthemiUer. 

McMURROUGH.  The  son  of  Murrough  or  Murrach;  Mor,  greatj 
strong,  and  ach,  battle.     Mur,  a  wall,  bulwark,  and  ach. 

McMURTAIR.     (aaehc.)     The  son  of  a  murderer. 

McNAB.  The  son  of  Nab.  Nab,  the  summit  of  a  mountain  or 
rock.    The  son  of  the  Ahhot  P    Nab,  Persic,  a  chief,  a  prince. 

McJN"AMARA.  (Celtic.)  From  Mac,  son,  and  cu-marra  or 
or  con-marra,  "  the  hero  of  the  sea."  Con-marra  was  de- 
scended from  Cas,  King  of  Thomond,  from  whom  came 
McOonmara,  or  Macnamara.  This  family  were  anciently 
hereditary  lords  in  the  County  of  Clare. 

McNEVIK  (Gaelic.)  The  son  of  ISTevin.  Cnamhin,  Naomh, 
holy,  sacred,  consecrated ;  a  saint. 

McNIEL.     The  son  of  Niel  (which  see). 

McNAUGHTON.  McAn  Achduinn.  The  son  of  the  expert 
and  potent,  from  Mac,  Gaelic,  son,  an,  of,  and  achduinn, 
tools  and  instruments  of  all  kinds ;  able,  expert,  potent. 

McPHERSON.  The  son  of  Pherson,  Pherson  is  the  son  of 
Pfarrer,  German,  a  parson,  and  that  from  Pfarre,  a  parish, 
a  benefit,  or  living.  Pfarre  is  derived  from  the  Gaelic 
Faire,  a  watcher,  to  watch,  an  overseer,  Episcopus. 

McQUADE.  Quad,  Danish,  a  song,  air,  lay ;  a  species  of  nar- 
rative poetry  among  the  ancient  minstrels.  The  son  of  the 
Poet 

McQUARIE  or  McGUAIRE.  Son  of  Guaire  or  Godfi-ey. 
Guaire  was  son  of  Alpin,  King  of  Scotland. 

McQUEEK  That  is,  McOwen,  the  son  of  Owen.  Originally 
McSweene. 


198  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARr 

McWILLIAM.     The  son  of  WHUam.     (See  WiUiam.) 

Mc WITHY.  The  son  of  the  weaver,  from  the  Gaelic  Mdc,  a 
son,  and  guithe,  Cor.  Br.,  a  weaver.  In  the  Welsh, 
gwehydd,  a  weaver,  quethy.  Cor.  Br.,  to  weave. 

MEAD.  Local.  A  meadow,  a  tract  of  low  land;  the  sense  is, 
extended  or  flat,  depressed  land. 

MEADOW.    Local.    Land  appropriated  to  the  culture  of  grass. 

MECHANT.     (French.)     Mediant,  bad,  wicked. 

MEDCAF.  Local.  The  inclosed  cell  or  church,  from  middj 
Welsh,  inclosed,  and  caf,  a  cell,  a  religious  house. 

MEEK.     Mild  of  temper,  soft,  gentle.    Mac,  G-aelic,  a  son. 

MEERS.     Shallow  water,  or  lake ; — a  name  of  place. 

MEHIN.     (Welsh.)     Mochyn,  a  pig ;  G-aeHc,  Muc,  a  wild  boar. 

MEIKLE.     A  lump  or  mass,  much,  big. 

MEIKLEHAM     The  large  village ;  the  great  house. 

MEICKLEJOHK  (Scottish.)  Large  John,  to  distinguish  him 
from  wee  John,  or  little  John. 

MELOR.    (Welsh  and  G-aehc.)     A  soldier,  from  melwr,  Welsh. 

MELLIS.  Sweet,  from  Mel,  honey,  or  Gaelic,  milis,  sweet, 
or  from  Milidh,  a  soldier. 

MELUISr.    Local    From  the  town  of  Melmi,  in  France. 

MENAI.  Welsh.  So  called  from  Menai,  a  strait  which  di- 
vides the  island  of  Anglesea  from  the  coast  of  Wales.  The 
Mena  or  Mona,  worshiped  by. the  Sequani,  was  the  moon. 
The  Gaels  blessed  the  beams  of  this  luminary  that  saved 
them  from  the  danger  of  precipices,  and  Augustine  says  that 
the  Gaelic  peasants  invoked  Mena  for  the  welfare  of  their 
women. 

MENNO.     Beardless;  defective. 

MENTETH  or  MONTEITH.  Local.  From  a  district  in 
Scotland  so  called,  tlirough  which  the  river  Teth  runs. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  199 

MENZIES.  Said  to  be  originally  Ilaynoers,  Meyners,  then 
Menys  afterward  Meynes  or  Mengies,  and  now  Menzies — a 
branch  of  the  family  of  Manners^  in  England,  the  name  being 
originally  the  same.  I  think,  rather,  the  name  is  derived 
from  the  parish  of  Monzie^  in  Perthshire,  Scotland. 

MERGER.     One  who  deals  in  silks  and  woolen  goods. 

MEREDITH.  This  famUy  is  of  British  origin.  Old  chronicles 
relate  that  the  first  settlement  of  the  family  was  situated 
on  the  Welsh  shore,  where  the  sea  washed  in  with  great 
impetuosity  and  noise,  from  whence  it  is  added  they  took 
the  name  of  Meredyth^  or  Ameredith.  Marcdydd^  Welsh, 
the  animated  one. 

MERLE  or  MERRIL.  (Fr.)  A  blackbird  Merel,  local,  a 
town  in  Savoy. 

MERTOK  Local  From  Merton,  a  town  hi  Sussex,  England, 
so  called  from  mere^  a  lake  or  marsh,  and  ton. 

MESHAW.     (Fr.)     Mediant,  bad,  wicked. 

MESICK  (Dutch.)  From  Mdesyck,  a  town  on  the  river 
Maes,  in  the  bishopric  of  Liege,  Netherlands. 

METCALF.  In  the  Welsh,  medd  signifies  a  vale,  a  meadow, 
and  ca/,  a  cell,  a  chancel,  a  church,  i.  e.,  the  church  in  the 
vale. 

The  origin  of  the  name,  however,  is  given  by  tradition  in  this 
wise.  In  those  days  when  bullfights  were  in  vogue,  in 
merry  England,  one  of  the  enraged  animals  broke  away  from 
the  combat,  and  was  hotly  pursued  by  horsemen.  A  certain 
John  Strong  happened  to  meet  the  bull  on  the  top  of  a  hill, 
and  when  attacked  by  the  furious  beast,  he  seized  him  in 
the  nostrils  with  his  left  hand,  and  killed  him.  As  he  came 
to  the  foot  of  the  hill,  meeting  several  persons  in  the  pur- 
suit, he  was  inquired  of  whether  he  had  met  a  bull;  he 
rephed  he  ''  Met  a  calf,"  and  from  this  circumstance  was 
called  afterward  John  Metcalfe. 


200  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

METTERlSriCH.  (Dutch.)  From  Metier,  middle  or  in,  and 
naght,  night — middle  of  the  night ;  born  in  the  middle  of  the 
night.  Metternach,  local,  the  town  next  to  the  middle  place, 
from  nach,  next,  after,  behind,  at,  or  by. 

MEYER.     (G-er.)     The  magistrate  of  a  city  or  town. 

MEYEUL.  Local.  Came  into  England  with  William  the 
Conqueror.     The  name  is  derived  from  a  place  in  France. 

MICHAEL.     (Heb.)    Who  is  like  God  ? 

MICKLE.    From  the  Saxon  Muchel ;  Scottish,  Muckle,  big. 

MIDDLEDITCH.  Local.  The  middle  trench  for  draining 
wet  land  or  guarding  inclosures. 

MIDDLETOK  Local.  From  Middleton,  a  small  town  in 
Dorsetshire,  England — ^the  middle  town. 

MILBOURNE.  Local.  The  mill  brook,  from  Miln,  a  mill,  and 
borne  or  bourne,  a  brook. 

MILDMAY.  Said  to  be  derived  from  the  Saxon  Mild,  soft 
or  tender,  and  dema,  a  judge,  and  was  given  to  one  of  the 
early  ancestors  of  the  family  from  his  tempering  the  severity 
of  the  law  with  mercy. 

MILFORD.    Local.     The  ford  by  the  mill. 

MILLER.  One  who  attends  a  grist-mill.  Meittear,  Gaelic, 
having  large  lips;  mdlair,  G-aelic,  a  merchant;  maiUor, 
GaeHc,  from  maille,  armor,  and  fear,  a  man — a  man  in 
armor,  having  a  coat  of  mail,  a  soldier. 

MILLMAJST.     A  man  belonging  to  a  mill. 

MILLS.    Local.    Living  near  a  mill.     Gaelic,  Milidh,  a  soldier, 

the  d  being  silent. 
MILNE.    A  mill.    In  Gaelic  Muileann  also  signifies  a  mill;  in 

Welsh,  Milain  implies  firmness,  fixedness  of  purpose. 

MILNER.    A  miller. 


OF  FAMILY   NAMES.  201 

MTLTHORPE.  Local.  From  a  village  of  that  name  in  West- 
moreland, England,  so  called  from  miU,  and  iJiorpe,  a  village 
— the  mill-village. 

MILTON.  Local.  From  the  town  of  Milton,  in  Kent,  Eng- 
land. The  mill-town,  from  the  Saxon  mih,,  a  mill,  and  ion; 
or  the  middle  town. 

MINSTER.     (Sax.)    An  abbey. 

MINT  URN.  (Welsh.)  Local.  The  round  stones  or  circle  of 
stones,  from  min,  stones,  and  turn,  a  round,  a  circle ;  trwn 
and  iron,  Welsh,  a  circle. 

MITCHELL.  A  corruption  of  Michael,  or  from  the  Saxon 
Muchel,  big. 

MIXE.    Local.    An  ancient  territory  of  France. 

MOCHRIE.  (Celtic.)  My  beloved,  from  mo,  my,  and  chreSf 
dear;  a  term  of  endearment,  a  sweetheart. 

MOE.     (Old  EngUsh.)     Large,  tall,  great. 

MOEL.     Maol,  in  the  G-aehc,  signifies  bald. 

MOELYN.     (Welsh.)    Bald-pate. 

MOFFATT.  Local.  Derived  from  the  town  of  Moflfat,  in 
Dumfriesshire,  Scotland. 

MOLEN.     (Dutch.)    A  mill 

MOLLOY.     (Cor.  Br.)     The  dusty  or  hoary  mill. 

MOLYNEUX.  (Fr.)  Local.  From  Normandy,  De  Mouhns, 
De  Moulines,  De  Molineus.  From  Mbulins,  a  town  on  the 
river  Allier,  in  France,  so  called  from  the  great  number  of 
water  mills  there.     Fr.,  Moulin,  a  mill. 

MONGrER.  Anciently  an  extensive  merchant,  now  used  to 
denote  those  who  traffic  in  a  single  article. 

MONK.      Greek,  fiovoc;  Welsh,   mon,   sole,   separate,  alone; 
GaeKc,  Tnoanach.    A  man  who  retires  from  the  ordinary  con- 
cerns of  the  world,  and  devotes  himself  to  rehgion. 
9* 


202  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

MONROE.  Local.  Monadh  Roe  or  Mont  Roe,  from  the 
mount  on  the  river  Roe,  in  Ireland,  whence  the  family  came. 
Moine  Roe,  a  mossy  place  on  the  Roe ;  M'unroe,  from,  of, 
or  about  the  Roe.     The  river  is  sometimes  written  Munree. 

MONSON.  Derived,  according  to  antiquarians,  from  the  Ger- 
man word  MuntZj  but  probably  the  son  of  Mon  or  Mun,  a 
nickname  for  Edmund. 

MONTAGrUE.    (Fr.)    Be  Mont  aigue — from  the  sharp  or  steep 

mountain. 
MONTFORD.     From  the  Latin  "Z>e  MonU  ForU;'  that  is,  from 

the  strong  or  fortified  hill  or  mountain. 
MONTaOMERY.     A  corruption  of  the  Latin  ''Mons  Gomeris,'' 

Gromer's  mount.     Qomer,  the  son  of  Japhet,  th€  hereditary 

name  of  the  Gauls. 

MONTMORICE.  The  mount  of  Morris;  or  from  the  Moorish 
mountains,  perhaps  natives  of  Morocco ;  some  bearing  this 
name  went  with  William  the  Conqueror  into  England. 

MOODY.  A  name  given  from  the  disposition.  Meudwy,  Welsh, 
an  anchorite,  a  recluse,  hermit,  a  monk. 

MOERS.  Derived  from  the  town  of  Moers,  in  the  Nether- 
lands. Moer  or  Moeras,  in  Dutch,  signifies  a  fen,  marsh,  or 
moor. 

MOON.  A  corruption  of  Mohun^  or  it  may  be  local,  from  the 
island  Anglesey  or  Mona^  so  called,  as  some  suppose,  from 
mwyn,  Welsh,  mines,  from  its  stone-quarries  and  mines; 
others  derive  it  from  mpn  or  mona,  alone,  separated.  Mwyn^ 
Welsh,  affable,  pleasant. 

MOONEY.     Meunier,  Fr.,  a  miller. 

MOORE  or  MORE.  (Gaelic.)  Mor,  great,  chief,  tall,  mighty, 
proud.  Moar,  a  collector  of  manorial  rents  in  the  Isle  of 
Man.     Moore,  from  moor — Jolm  o'  the  Moor. 

MORAN.  A  multitude.  Moran,  a  contraction  of  Morgan, 
which  signifies  of  or  belonging  to  the  sea. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  203 

MORETOK  (G-aelic.)  Local.  From  mor,  large,  high,  and 
dun^  ton^  a  hilL 

MORG-AN.  From  Mor,  the  sea,  and  gan^  born ;  the  same  as 
Pelagius — ^born  on  the  sea,  from  the  Greek  •Kilayog,  the 
sea.  Mor^  the  sea,  and  gan^  by  or  near — near  the  sea,  a 
locality. 

MORIARTY.  (GaeUc.)  Noble,  illustrious,  from  Jfor,  great, 
and  artach,  exalted. 

MORLEY.  Local.  From  Morlaix,  in  Brittany,  France,  and 
derived  from  the  Welsh  or  British  word  mor,  the  sea,  and 
Zey,  a  valley.  It  is  situated  near  the  sea,  on  a  river  of  the 
same  name. 

MORSE.  Probably  a  contraction  of  Morris.  Mors,  the  name 
of  a  large  island  in  Denmark,  a  marsh. 

MORREL.     Having  yellow  hair. 

MORRIS.  (Welsh.)  From  Mawr  and  rySj  a  hero,  a  warrior, 
a  brave  man.  Marth,  the  great,  the  warlike,  same  as 
Mavors. 

MORTOK  (Gaelic.)  Local.  From  the  parish  of  Morton,  in 
Nithsdale,  Dumfriesshire,  Scotland.  Mor,  big,  great,  and 
dun,  ton,  a  hill. 

MOSELEY.  Local  Moss-ley,  Sax.,  Moose,  Moyes,  or  Moss, 
a  mossy  field  or  pasture. 

MOTT.     (Fr.)     A  round  artificial  hilL 

MOULTOK    Local    A  small  town  in  Devonshire,  England. 

MOUNTAIN.  A  name  of  place.  This  name  once  gave  occa- 
sion to  a  pun  which  would  have  been  excellent,  had  the 
allusion  been  made  to  any  other  book  than  the  Holy 
Scriptures. 

Dr.  Mountain,  chaplain  to  Charles  II.,  was  asked  one  day  by 
that  monarch  to  whom  he  should  present  a  certain  bishopric 
just  then  vacant.  "  If  you  had  but  faith,  sire,"  replied  he, 
"  I  could  tell  you  to  whom."  "  How  so,"  said  Charles,  "  if  I  had 


204  ETYMOLOGICAL    DICTIONARY 

but  faith."  "Why,  yes,"  said  the  witty  cleric,  "your  maj- 
esty might  then  say  to  this  Mountain,  he  thou  removed  into 
that  sea."     The  chaplain  succeeded. 

MOUNTJOY.  A  name  adopted  probably  by  one  of  the  cru- 
saders, from  a  place  near  Jerusalem,  which,  according  to  Sir 
John  Mandeville,  "  men  clepen  Mount-Joye,  for  it  gevethe 
joye  to  pilgrymes  hertes,  be  cause  that  there  men  seen  first 
Jerusalem  *  *  *  ^  full  fair  place,  and  a  delicyous," 
Lower  says,  "  Some  religious  houses  in  England  had  their 
MountjoySj  a  name  given  to  eminences  where  the  first  view 
of  the  sacred  edifice  was  to  be  obtained.  This  name  is  still 
retained  in  a  division  of  the  hundred  of  Battel,  not  far  from 
the  remains  of  the  majestic  pile  reared  by  William  the  Con- 
queror. Boyer  defines  'Mont-joie'  as  a  heap  of  atones  made 
by  a  French  army,  as  a  monument  of  victory." 

MOXON.     The  son  of  Moggie  or  Margaret. 

MOXLE Y.  Local.  Probably  Mugashy,  from  the  Saxon  muga, 
much,  great,  large,  and  ley,  a  field. 

MULLIGAN".  (G-aeHc.)  Local.  Mullechean,  the  top  or  sum- 
mit, a  height. 

MULLINS.     (Fr.)     A  miller.     "i)e  i/owZm,"  from  the  mill. 

MUMFORD.     The  same  as  Montfort  (which  see). 

MUNDY.  Local.  Derived  from  the  Abbey  of  Mondaye,  in 
the  dukedom  of  Normandy. 

MUNGEY.     A  corruption  of  Mountjoy  (which  see). 

MUNN.     A  famihar  abbreviation  of  Edmund. 

MUNSEL.  Local.  From  MonsaU,  a  dale  of  Derbyshire,  or  a 
person  originally  from  Mansle,  in  France. 

MUERAY,  MORAY.  De  Moravia.  Some  deduce  this  family 
from  a  warhke  people  called  the  Moi^avii,  who  came  from 
Germany  into  Scotland,  and  afiixed  their  own  nomenclature 
to  that  district  now  called  the  shire  of  Moray.  The  root  of 
the  name  is  the  same  whether  Moravian  or  Gaelic,  and  sig- 
nifies the  great  water,  fi^om  mor,  great,  and  an  or  av,  water. 


OF    FAMILY   NAMES.  206 

MIJERELL.    (Ft.)    A  sea  wall  or  bank,  to  keep  oflf  the  water; 

a  name  of  place. 
MUSGrRAVE.      King's  falconer,  from  Meus,  Sax.,  the  place 

where  the  hawks  were  kept,  and  grave,  keeper. 
MYERS.     The  same  as  Meyer,  the  magistrate  of  a  city  or 

town ;  a  very  common  name  in  Germany. 

NAB.  In  the  Persic,  signifies  a  chief,  a  prince.  Nab,  English, 
the  summit  of  a  mountain,  the  top. 

NAFFIS  or  NEFIS.  (Fr.)  From  Ne/ils,  that  is,  bom  son, 
from  Ne  and  Jils.  Nwyfus,  in  the  Welsh,  signifies  brisk, 
sprightly,  active. 

NAIRNE,  Local.  The  name  of  a  shire,  river,  and  town  in 
Scotland,  whence  the  surname  is  derived.  The  name  was 
taken  from  the  river,  which  was  called  in  Gaelic  uisge- 
n'fhearn,  from  uisge,  water,  and  n'fhearn  (pronounced  nearn, 
the  "  fh"  having  no  sound),  "  the  alders" — "  the  water  of  the 
alders,"  from  the  great  number  of  alder-trees  which  grew  on 
its  banks. 

NANCE.  Local.  From  Nance  or  Nancy,  a  city  of  France,  capi- 
tal of  the  department  of  Meurthe,  and  signifies  a  valley ;  nans 
or  nantz,  in  the  Cornish  British,  is  a  plain,  a  dale,  a  level. 

NAPIER.  It  is  said  that  Donald,  a  son  of  the  Earl  of  Lennox, 
for  his  bravery  in  battle,  had  his  name  changed  by  the  king 
to  Napier.  After  the  battle,  as  the  manner  is,  every  one  ad- 
vancing and  setting  forth  his  own  acts,  the  king  said  unto 
them,  "  Ye  have  all  done  valiantly,  but  there  is  one  among 
you  who  hath  Wa  Pier,^  "  and  the  king  gave  him  lands  in 
Fife  and  Goffurd.  The  name  came,  however,  fi:om  taking 
charge  of  the  king's  napery  or  linen  at  the  coronation  of 
Enghsh  kings,  an  oJGfice  held  by  WiUiam  De  Hastings,  in 
the  time  of  Heniy  I. 

NASH.  Supposed  to  be  a  corruption  of  "Aiten-Ash,'" — at  the  ash. 
Naish,  a  place  near  Bristol,  England.  Naisg,  Gaelic,  made  fast, 
bound,  protected.     Probably  an  old  fortress  or  watch-tower. 


206  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

NAYLOR.    A  maker  of  nails. 

NEANDER.    Newman,  Greek,  veog-dv7)p^  the  new  man. 

NEBDHAM.  Local  From  Needham^  a  market-town  in  Suf- 
folk, England — the  village  of  cattle;  Sax.,  neat^  Danish, 
nodj  a  herd,  and  ham,  a  village.  In  another  sense  it  may 
denote  the  clean,  fair  town. 

NEAL.  The  same  as  Neil  (which  see).  Neal  may  be  some- 
times a  contraction  of  Nigel. 

NEFF.  French,  iVa«/;  artless,  candid,  iVe/,  a  water-mill ;  the 
nave  of  a  chm-ch. 

NEFIS.  Welsh,  Nwyfus,  sprightly.  Nefils,  French,  a  son 
bom,  descendant  from. 

NEIL  and  NEL.  In  the  Cor.  Br.  signifies  power,  might,  that 
is,  the  powerful  or  mighty.  Neul  or  Mai,  in  the  Gaelic,  sig- 
nifies a  cloud  or  hue ;  figuratively,  a  dark  complexion. 

NELSON  or  NEILSON.    The  son  of  Neil  or  Nel 
NELTHROPE.     From  Nehwl,  Gothic  for  near  or  nigh,  and 

thorpe,  a  village ;  given  to  an  individual  living  at  such  a  spot 

near  the  village.     [Playfair.] 
NEQUAM.    (Latin.)    Dishonest,  lazy.    Alexander  Nequam,  of 

St.  Albans,  wishing  to  devote  himself  to  a  monastic  life,  in 

the  abbey  of  his  native  town,  applied  to  the  ruler  of  that 

establishment  for  admission.      The  abbot's  reply  was  thus 

laconically  expressed : 
"  Si  bonus  sis,  venias,  si  Nequam,  nequaquam."     If  good,  you 

may  come ;  if  wicked,  by  no  means. 
It  is  said  he  changed  his  name  to  Neckham,  and  was  admitted 

into  the  fraternity. 
NESS.     A  cape  or  promontory. 
NETHERWOOD.     Local.     The  lower  wood. 
NEVEU.     (Fr.)     A  nephew. 
NEVILLE.     (Fr.)     "Z)e  iVewve  w'ZZe,"  of  the  new  town.     Neu- 

vUle,  a  town  in  Poitou,  France. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  207 

NEVrN".  (G-aelic.)  Naomh,  holy,  sacred,  consecrated.  Welsh, 
Nef,  heaven;  Nefanedig,  heaven-born;  Nefddawn,  heaven- 
gifted. 

NEWBURY.  (Sax.)  New-town.  A  place  in  Berkshire 
raised  out  of  the  ruins  of  an  old  town  called  Spingham. 

NEWTH.     Nuadh,  in  the  G-aelic,  signifies  new,  fresh,  recent. 

NEWTON.  Local.  The  name  of  several  smaU  towns  in 
England — the  new  town. 

NISBETT.  Local.  From  the  lands  of  Nisbett,  in  the  shire  of 
Berwick,  Scotland. 

NOAKES  or  NOKES.  A  corruption  of  Atten  Oale,  "at  the 
oak;"  en  was  added  to  at  when  the  following  word  began 
with  a  vowel,  as  "  John  Atten  Ash" — John  Nash,  that  is, 
John  at  the  Ash.  Mr.  John  Nokes  is  a  celebrated  person- 
age in  legal  matters,  as  well  as  his  constant  antagonist 
Mr.  John  Styles  (John  at  the  Style).  The  names  are  so 
common,  that  "  Jack  Noakes  and  Tom  Styles"  designate  the 
rabble. 

NOBLE.     Great,  elevated,  dignified. 

NOEL.  (Fr.)  Christmas ;  a  name  given  probably  to  a  child 
born  at  that  time. 

NOGENT.  Local.  From  the  town  of  Nogent,  in  the  province 
of  Champagne,  France.  The  Nugents  went  from  England 
into  Ireland  in  the  time  of  Henry  II. 

NOKBURY.     Local.     The  north  town  or  village. 

NORCUTT  or  NORTHCOTE.  Local.  The  north-cot;  so 
Eastcott  and  Westcott. 

NORFOLK.  Local.  A  county  of  England.  Nord-folJc,  the 
north  people,  so  caKed  with  regard  to  Suffolk,  or  the  south 
'  people. 

NORMAN.  A  native  of  Normandy,  a  northman.  The  inhab- 
itants of  Sweden,  Denmark,  and  Norway  were  anciently  so 
called. 


208  ETYMOLOGICAL  DICTIONARY 

NOERIS.  Norroy^  or  north-king ;  a  title  given,  in  England,  to 
the  third  king-at-arms.     Norrie,  French,  a  foster-child. 

NORTHAM.     Local.    The  north  house  or  village — North-ham. 

NORTHOP.    Local     A  place  in  England ;  the  north  thorp  or 

village. 

NORTHUMBERLAND.      Local.      A   county    of  England. 

North-Humher-land,  the  land  on  the  north  side  of  the  river 

Humber. 
NORTOK    Local.     From  Norton,  a  town  in  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land.    The  north-town. 
NORWICH.     Local.     From  the  city  and  seaport  of  Norwich, 

in  Norfolk,  England.     The  north-harbor,  from  north,  and 

wick,  a  harbor  or  port. 
NOTT.    Hnott,  Saxon,  smooth,  round,  a  nut.    Nbited,  an  old 

word  for  shorn,  polled.     The  name  may  have  come  from 

wearing  the  hair  short  and  smooth. 

"A  nott  hed  had  he,  with  a  brown  visage." — Ohauobe. 

The  following,  it  is  said,  was  penned  by  the  first  wife  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Nott,  on  his  asking  her  hand  in  marriage  : 

"  Why  urge,  dear  sir,  a  bashful  maid, 

To  change  her  single  lot, 
When  well  you  know,  I've  often  said 

In  truth,  I  love  you,  Nott. 
For  all  your  pain  I  do,  Nott,  care, 

And  trust  me  on  my  life, 
Though  you  had  thousands, — I  declare, 

I  would,  Nott,  be  your  wife." 

NOTTnTOHAM.  Local.  From  the  borough  town  of  Notting- 
ham, in  England.  Bailey  says  the  name  is  corrupted  from 
Snottingham,  from  the  Saxon  Snottengaj.ca.yeSj  and  ham,  a 
village,  from  the  many  caves  and  places  of  security  found  in 
tliat  county. 

HOWELL.     The  same  as  Noel  (which  see). 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  gOf 

EOX.    Local.     Cnoc^  in  the  Gaelic,  is  a  little  hill,  a  hillock. 

NOTES.  Noy  is  an  abbreviation  for  Noah.  "  In  England,  in  the 
seventeenth  century,  Attorney-General  Noy  was  succeeded 
by  Sir  John  Banks,  and  Chief-justice  Heath  being  found 
guilty  of  bribery,  Sir  John  Finch  obtained  the  ofi&ce ;  hence 
it  was  said : 

"  Nay's  flood  is  gone, 

The  Banks  appear,  \ 

Heath  is  shorn  down, 
And  Finch  sings  here." — ^Lowee. 

In  the  Cornish  British,  Noi  is  a  nephew,  and  Noys  night. 

NUGENT.    (SeeNogent) 

NYE.  The  familiar  abbreviation  of  Isaac,  among  the  Dutch. 
Noie,  Danish,  exact,  precise,  nice.  Ny^  Danish,  new,  re- 
cently produced.  Lower  gives  the  name  from  AUen-Eye^ 
at  the  island.  • 

OAEIES.    Local.    From  a  dwelling  near  the  oak-trees. 

OAKHAM.  Local.  From  the  town  of  Oakham,  in  Rutland- 
shire, England,  so  called  from  Oak,  and  ham,  the  village  by 
the  oaks. 

OAKLEY.    Local.    The  fields  or  pasture  abounding  in  oaks. 

O'BIERNE.  The  same  as  O'Byrne.  0,  or  Ui^  signifies  grand- 
son, descendant.  The  descendants  of  Byrne.  In  the  Welsh^ 
Bryn  is  a  hill ;  Brenin,  a  chief,  a  king. 

O'BRIEN.     The  descendant  of  Brien,  i.  e.,  exalted,  noble. 

O'BYRNE.  Originally  OBran,  the  descendants  of  Bran,  an 
ancient  king  of  Leinster ;  which  signifies  a  raven ;  he  was 
usually  called  Bran  Duv,  the  black  raven,  from  the  color  of 
his  hair,  and  his  thirst  of  prey. 

O'CALLAGHAN.  (Celtic  or  Gaehc.)  The  descendants  or 
tribe  of  Callaghan,  from  CiaUac\  prudent,  judicious,  discreet 


210  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

OCHIERN  or  OiaTHIERNA.  (aaelic.)  A  term  appKed  to 
the  heir  apparent  to  a  lordship,  from  Gig,  young,  and  tiernaj 
a  lord. 

OCKHAM.  Local  From  o(Jc  or  oc,  an  oak,  and  ham,  a  vil- 
lage, a  town  in  Surrey,  England,  so  called  from  the  abun- 
dance of  oaks  growing  there. 

OCKLEY.  (Sax.)  From  ock  or  ac^  an  oak,  and  leagj  a  field. 
The  oak  field, 

O'CONOR  or  O'CONNOR.  The  descendants  of  Conor  or  Con- 
covar,  an  Irish  chieftain,  who  died  in  the  year  971.  (See 
Conor.) 

O'DEVLIN.     The  descendant  of  Develin  (which  see) 

O'DONNELL.  The  descendants  of  Donal,  an  ancient  Irish 
family,  who  trace  their  descent  through  Donal  to  NiaUus 
Magnus,  the  ancestor  of  the  O'Neills,  known  as  Nidi  Nia- 
gaUach,  Nial  of  the  nine  hostages.  The  O'Donnells  ruled 
the  territory  of  TirconneU,  for  thirteen  "generations.  (See 
Donald.) 

O'DONOaHUE.     The  descendants  of  Donogh  (which  see). 

O'DONOVAN.  The  descendants  of  Donovan,  which  is  de- 
rived from  Donduhhan,  the  brown-haired  chief  This  name 
was  given  to  a  celebrated  Irish  chieftain  of  the  tenth  cen- 
tury, who  was  killed  by  the  famous  Brian  Boru. 

O'DORCY.  The  descendant  of  Dorcy.  Dorcy  is  a  corruption 
of  De  O'rsay,  from  Orsay,  a  town  in  Cleeve,  Germany. 

O'DOUaHERTY.  The  chief  of  the  oak  habitation,  fi-om  O, 
high  or  chie^  doire  or  darach,  the  place  of  oaks,  and  %A,  a 
habitation. 

O'DUGrAN.     The  descendant  of  Dugan  (which  see). 

O'FL AHERTY.     The  descendant  of  Flaherty  (which  see). 

OG-DEN.  Local  (Sax.)  From  ock,  oak-tree,  and  den,  a  val- 
ley ;  the  oak  vale,  or  shady  valley.     Ogduine,  in  the  Gaelic, 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  211 

signifies  a  young  man,  from  Og,  young,  and  duine^  a  man  ; 
Ogdyn^  in  the  Welsh,  has  the  same  signification. 

OGrlLVIE.  Local.  From  the  lands  of  Ogilvie,  in  Scotland. 
It  may  come  from  the  Welsh  Ochil,  a  high  place. 

O'GOWAN.     The  descendant  of  Gowan  (which  see). 

O'HARA.  The  descendant  of  "  Hara,'^  Chaldee  form  of  ara,  a 
mountain.  In  GaeHc,  arra  signifies  a  pledge,  treachery; 
arr,  a  stag,  a  hind ;  arradh,  an  armament ;  ara,  plural  of  ar, 
slaughter,  battle.     Hara,  Saxon,  a  hare. 

O'KEEFE.  The  descendant  of  Kief  Kief,  in  the  Danish,  sig- 
nifies brave,  stout,  courageous. 

OLIFANT.     An  elephant. 

O'LEARY.     The  descendant  of  Lary;  Llary,  Welsh,  gentle, 

easy. 
OLIVER.     So  named  from  the  olive-tree,  an  emblem  of  peace. 

OLLENDORFF.  Local.  From  Oldendorf  in  Germany,  so 
called  from  Olden,  old,  and  dorf,  a  vUlage. 

OLMSTEAD.  Local.  A  place  or  town  by  the  green  oaks, 
from  Holm,  an  oak,  and  stead,  a  place.  Holme,  low  lands 
on  a  river,  an  island. 

O'MAHONY.     The  descendant  of  Mahon,  which  signifies  a 

bear. 
O'M ALLEY.     The  descendant  of  MaUey;  Mala,  Gaelic,  the 

brow  of  a  hill ;  Maille,  smooth,  placid,  gentle. 

ONDERDONK.    (Dutch.)    Under  grace  or  pardon,  from  onder, 

under,  and  dank,  thankfulness,  gratitude. 
O'NEIL.     The  descendants  of  Neil,  that  is,  the  powerful  or 

mighty. 
ONSLOW.    Local.     From  the  manor  of  Onslow,  in  Sliropshire, 

England.     Aunslow  signifies  a  place  on  a  river  or  stream. 
O'QUIK     Anciently  O'Con.     The  descendants  of  Con  Cead- 

caha,  one  of  the  early  monarchs  of  Ireland. 


-mmmmmmmmm 


312  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

ORCHARD.  Local.  An  inclosure  of  fruit-trees.  OrcTieard, 
Graelic,  a  goldsmith. 

ORME.     (Prencli.)     Local.    An  elm-tree. 

ORMISTOK    Local     The  town  or  village  of  ehns. 

ORMSBY.  From  orme,  an  ehn,  and  hy,  a  town;  a  name  of 
a  place  surrounded  by  elms. 

ORR.  Local  Derived  from  the  river  and  town  of  Orr,  in 
Scotland.  Or,  in  Welsh  and  G-aelic,  signifies  a  border,  a 
boundary. 

ORTON.  Local  From  the  town  of  Orton,  in  Westmoreland, 
England.  G-aelic,  Ord,  a  hill  of  a  round  form  and  steep, 
and  ton,  a  town  a  fortress. 

ORVIS.  Urfhas,  in  the  G-aelic,  signifies  fair  offspring.  Arvos, 
Cor.  Br.,  local,  a  place  on  or  near  an  entrenchment,  from  Ar 
and /oss. 

OSBORN.  (Sax.)  From  hm,  a  house,  and  hecum,  a  child — a 
family-child,  an  adopted  child. 

OSMUND.     (Sax.)     From  hus,  a  house,  and  mvm,d,  peace. 

OSTERHOUDT.  (Dutch.)  The  east  wood,  from  oost  or  ost&r, 
east,  and  houdt,  a  wood. 

OSTHEIM.  (Ger.)  From  Osf,  east,  and  heim,  a  home,  habi- 
tation or  village. — -"From  the  east  habitation  or  village. 

OSTRANDER.  (Dutch.)  The  lord  of  the  east  shore,  from 
oste,  east,  strand,  the  shore,  and  heer,  lord  or  master ;  he  that 
must  have  his  due  of  a  stranded  ship. 

OSWALD.  (Sax.)  From  hus,  a  house,  and  wdldj  a  ruler — a 
house-ruler  or  steward ;  a  king  of  Northumberland. 

OTIS.  (Greek.)  From  urbc,  the  genitive  singular  of  dvc,  the 
ear,  a  name  given  from  quick  hearing. 

O'TOOLE.  Originally  O'Tuathal— the  descendants  of  Tuaihai^ 
which  signifies  "  the  lordly." 


OF   FAMILY    NAMES.  ^13 

OTTER.    Local.     OitiVj  Gaelic,  a  low  promontory  jutting  into 

the  sea,  a  shoal. 
OUDEKIRK.     (Dutch.)     Local.     From  a  town  of  the  same 

name  in  Holland,  and  signifies  the  old  church,  jfrom  oude, 

old,  and  herh,  a  church. 
OUSELEY.     Local.     From  the  river  Ouse,  in  England,  and 

%,  a  field  or  place — a  place  on  the  river  Ouse.     The  name 

Ouse  is  derived  from  the  Gaelic  uisge,  water. 
OUTHOUDT.     (Dutch.)    Local.     The  old  wood. 
OWEN.      (Celtic.)      The  good  ofispring.      Oen^  Welsh,  and 

Gaelic,  uan,  a  lamb. 
OXFORD.    Local     From  Oxford,  in  England,  on  the  Isis, 

the  seat  of  the  celebrated  university  founded  in  806 ;  from 

Or,  Anglo-Saxon,  water,  corrupted  by  the  Angles  or  Danes 

from  the  Gaelic  uisge  or  isk,  and  ford,  a  pass  or  way — the 

ford  across  the  Isis. 
Bailey  derives  it  from  Oxen-ford,  "  the  ford  of  the  oxen,"  like 

the  Greek  Bosphorus,  or  fi:om  the  river  Ouse,  and  ford. 

The  name  of  the  river  On^e  is  derived  from  uisge,  water. 

PADDOCK.     (Old  EngHsh.)     A  meadow,  croft  or  field;   an 

inclosure  in  a  park. 
PAGE,  Child,  and  Yarlet,  were  names  given  to  youtlis  between 

seven  and  fourteen  years  of  age  while  receiving  theu*  educa- 
tion for  knighthood. 
PAINE.     Paon,  Fr.,  a  peacock.     Payne,  a  pagan,  unbaptized ; 

a  rustic. 
PAISLEY.     (Welsh.)     Local.     From  Plas,  a  pass,  and  lli^  a 

stream — the  place  of  crossing  the  river. 
PALMER.     A  pilgrim,  so  called  from  the  palm-branch,  which 

he  constantly  carried  as  a  pledge  of  his  having  been  in  the 

Holy  Land. 

"  Here  is  a  holy  Palmer  come, 
From  Salem  first,  and  last  from  Rome." 

Scott'b  Mabmioht. 


214  ETYMOLOGICAL  DICTIONARY 

PANCOST.  A  corruption  of  Pentecost,  the  fifteenth  day  after 
Easter,  a  name  probably  given  to  a  child  born  on  that  day. 

PANaBOUKN.  Local.  A  town  m  Berkshire,  England; 
hourn,  a  brook,  a  river. 

PARDIE.  A  name  given  to  one  who  was  in  the  habit  of 
swearing  Par-dku.  Lower  says,  it  is  not  a  Httle  curious 
that  the  French  oath,  '■^Par  Dieu"  has  become  naturalized 
among  us,  under  the  various  modifications  of  Pardew,  Par- 
doe,  Pardow,  and  Pardee.  So  also  we  have  the  Norman 
name  Bigot,  from  the  habit  of  swearing  ^^Bv-Ood^ 

PARSALL.  Local  Park-hall,  the  same  as  Parshall.  Par- 
cell  may  be  fi-om  par-del,  "  by  heaven,"  a  name  given  for  the 
same  reason  as  the  preceding  one. 

PARIS.  Local.  The  metropolis  of  France,  on  the  Seine,  an- 
ciently called  "Lutetia  Parisiorum,"  Lutum,  mud,  from  its 
situation  in  a  marshy  place,  A  place  where  the  Pars  or 
Peers  met  in  Congress.  Paro,  to  make  civil  or  military 
arrangements;  Paries,  a  wall,  a  walled  town;  Peri,  an 
island. 

PARKE.  A  piece  of  ground  inclosed,  and  stored  with  deer 
and  other  beasts  of  chase. 

PARKER.     The  keeper  of  a  park. 

PARKMAN.     The  sarSe  as  Parker, 

PARNELL,  The  same  as  Pernell,  from  PetroniUa,  Italian, 
pretty  stone,     A  wanton,  immodest  girl 

PARRET  or  PERROT.  Local  From  Peraidd,  Welsh,  the 
sweet  or  delicious  river,  now  the  Bee. 

PARRY.  (Welsh.)  Probably  a  contraction  of  Ap  Harry,  the 
son  of  Harry.  In  the  Welsh  it  also  signifies  ready,  prepared, 
equal,  like ;  Para,  endurance,  one  capable  of  enduring.  The 
name  may  be  local,  from  Parys,  a  mountain  in  Wales,  so 
called  from  parhotts,  inexhaustible  (mines) ;  or  Pres,  brass, 
copper,  ore. 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  215 

PARSHALL.  Local.  Park-haU,  the  hall,  or  mansion  m  the 
Park. 

PAESON.  We  suppose  that  its  first  founder  was  a  clerical 
character  or  parson.  From  the  Latin  Persona,  that  is,  the 
person  who  takes  care  of  the  souls  of  his  parishioners. 

PATRICK.  From  the  Latin  Pairidus^  noble,  a  senator ;  the 
name  of  the  tutelary  saint  of  Ireland. 

PATTERSON  or  PATTISON.  Patrick's  son,  the  son  of  Pat- 
rick. 

PAUL.     Signifies  Httle,  small.     Latin,  Paulm,  Greek,  nav2,og, 

PAXTON.  Local.  From  the  town  of  Paxton,  in  Berwick- 
shire, Scotland. 

PAYNE.    Local.    From  a  place  called  Payne,  in  Normandy. 

PEABODY.  There  is  an  ancient  tradition  (we  give  it  for  what 
it  is  worth),  that  this  name  was  derived  from  one  Boadiej 
a  kinsman  of  Queen  Boadicea,  who  assisted  her  in  her  re- 
volt against  the  Romans.  After  the  Britons  were  subdued 
by  the  Romans,  Queen  Boadicea  dispatched  herself  by 
poison,  and  Boadie,  with  a  remnant  of  the  Britons,  escaped 
to  the  mountains  of  Wales.  Boadie,  among  the  Cambri  or 
Britons,  signified  a  man  or  a  great  man,  and  Pea  signified  a 
large  hUl,  a  mountain,  from  which  Boadie  came  to  be  called 
Peabodie,  or  the  Mountain  man,  wb'ch  became  the  name  of 
the  tribe. 

PEACOCK.  Taken  fi-om  the  name  of  the  well-known  fowl ; 
pea,  contracted  fi-om  the  Latin,  pavo,  Saxon,  pawa,  French, 
paon, — a  name  given  from  a  fondness  of  display. 

PEARSON  or  PIERSON.  Pi&rre-son,  the  son  of  Pierre  or 
Peter. 

PEDIN.  Local.  Pedn,  Cor.  Br.,  is  a  hill ;  the  head  of  any 
thing. 

PEEBLES.  Local.  From  the  town  and  shire  of  Peebles,  m 
Scotland.  Pohl,  Welsh,  people,  and  lie,  a  place;  PdbvM^ 
Gaelic,  people,  and  eis,  many ;  the  place  of  many  people. 


216  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

PEELE.  Local.  A  tower,  a  castle,  a  spire,  a  steeple,  as  Camer- 
pehj  the  spire  rock.     Pefe,  Fr.,  a  bald-pated  man. 

PELHAM.  Local.  From  the  lordship  of  Pelham,  in  Hertford- 
shire, England,  either  from  peele,  a  tower,  castle,  or  from 
poo\  a  small  lake,  and  ham^  a  village. 

PELL,  according  to  Bailey,  is  a  house ;  in  the  Welsh  it  signi- 
fies, far  off,  at  a  distance, 

PELLETIER.     (Fr.)    A  furrier,  or  skinner. 

PELLYN,  now  PILLINQS.  (Cor.  Br.)  The  distant  pool 
Pyling^  an  old  word  denoting  a  superstructure, 

IPENDLETOK  Local  The  summit  of  the  hill,  aaelic,  from 
pendle,  the  summit,  and  dun,  a  hilL  Pen-dal-ton,  the  town 
at  the  head  of  the  valley. 

PENaiLLY.     (Cor.  Br.)     The  head  of  the  grove. 

PEKN".     (Cor.  Br.)     The  top  of  a  hill;  the  head. 

PENNANT.  (Cor.  Br.)  From  Pew,  a  head,  and  nant,  a  vale, 
or  dingle ;  the  head  of  the  dingle ;  the  principal  mansion  of 
the  family,  Bychton,  in  Wales,  being  situated  at  the  head  of 
a  considerable  dingle  on  the  old  family  estate. 

PENNINGTON,  Local  Derived  from  the  manor  of  Pen- 
nington, in  Lancashire,  England,  anciently  Penitone,  written 
in  the  Doomsday-Book,  Pennegetwm. 

PENEY.  Local  A  town  in  Savoy ;  the  head  of  the  water, 
from  pen  and  eau,  also  a  pinnacle. 

PENNY  or  PINNY.  The  top  of  a  mountain  or  hiU.  A 
mountain  in  Spain  is  called  by  the  inhabitants  "  La  Penna 
de  los  Enamorados,"  or  the  Lover's  Rock.  The  word  has 
the  same  meaning  as  the  English  pinnacle. 

PENNYMAN  or  PENNYMON.  (Welsh.)  Local  Pm-y- 
mon,  the  top  of  the  mountain. 


OF    FAMILY   NAMES.  211 

PEKCY,  PIERCY,  PEROEY.  Local.  The  renowned  famUy 
of  Percy,  of  Northumberland,  England,  derived  their  name 
from  Percy  Forest,  in  the  Province  of  Maen,  Normandy, 
whence  they  came,  which  signifies  a  stony  place,  from 
pierre.  It  may  signify  a  hunting  place,  from  pirsen,  Teu- 
tonic, to  hunt ;  percer,  French,  to  penetrate,  to  force  one's  way. 

PEREJNS.  From  Peir  or  Peter,  and  the  patronymic  or  di- 
minutive termination  ins, — httle  Peter,  or  the  son  of  Peter. 

PERRIG-0.    Local.     From  Per^ewaj,  a  tovni  of  France. 

PERRY.  If  not  synonymous  with  Parry,  it  is  local,  from 
Pierre  (Fr.),  a  stone,  signifying  a  stony  place,  abounding 
in  rocks. 

PEYENSEY.  liocal.  A  village  in  Sussex,  England,  the  land- 
ing place  of  William  the  Conqueror,  in  1066,  derived  from 
Pau,  Welsh,  a  tract  of  pasture  land,  and  aven(s),  a  river,  and 
aig,  the  sea,  standing  at  the  mouth  of  a  river,  near  the  sea. 
The  name  is  also  Gaelic,  and  has  the  same  meaning.  Biad- 
hahhainisg,  or  Pababhainisg. 

PEYTON.  Assumed  by  the  proprietors  of  Peyton,  a  small 
town  near  Boxford,  in  Suffolk,  England.  They  were  de- 
scendants of  WUliam  Mallet,  one  of  the  favorites  of  William 
the  Conqueror. 

PHELPS.  Supposed  to  be  the  same  as  PhiUips  (which  see). 
The  name  may  come  from  the  Danish,  Hvalp ;  Swedish, 
Vdlp,  a  whelp. 

PHILIP.x    (Grreek.)    A  lover  of  horses,  from  ^i/lof,  and  lizTtog. 
PHIPPEN.     A  corruption  of  Fitz  Penn,  from  the  Norman, 

Fitz,  a  son,  and  Penn.     The  son  of  Penn. 
PHYSICK.     The  art  of  heahng  diseases.     A  name  given  to  a 

physician. 

PICKERING.      Local.     A  market  town  of  north  Yorkshire, 

England,  with  the  remains  of  a  castle. 
PICKERSGILL.    Local.      The  stream  inhabited  by  pike  or 

pickerel, 

10 


218  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

PIEECE.    The  same  as  Piercy  or  Percy  (which  see). 

PIERPONT.  (Ft.)  Be  Pierre  Pont,  from  the  stohe  bridge ; 
in  Latin,  I>e  Petra  Ponte. 

PIGGOT  and  PICKETT.  Pitted  with  the  smaU-pox,  spotted 
in  the  face,  from  the  French  PicoU. 

PIGMAN.  A  dealer  in  pigs.  A  man  by  the  name  of  John- 
son, in  Staffordshire,  England,  who  followed  this  occupation, 
was  generally  called  Pigman,  and  he  willingly  recognized 
this  cognomen. 

PILCHER.     A  maker  of  pikhes,  a  kind  of  great  coat  or  upper 
,    garment,  in  use  in  the  fourteenth  century. 

"  After  gret  heat  cometh  cold, 
No  man  cast  hia  pylch  away."— Chaucer. 

PILLESTGS.     Same  as  Pellyn  (which  see). 

PITTMAN,  PUTMAN.  A  man  Hving  near  a  well  or  spring; 
Saxon,  pit;  Danish,  put,  a  weU  or  spring. 

PLAYEAIR.  Local.  The  play  ground,  a  place  where  fairs 
were  held,  and  holidays  kept. 

PLAYSTED.  The  place  appropriated  to  amusement,  or  any 
exercise  intended  for  pleasure. 

PLEASANTS.  Local.  From  a  suburb  of  the  city  of  Edin- 
burgh, called  "  The  Pleasants,"  where  anciently  was  a  priory 
of  nuns,  which  was  dedicated  to  St.  Mary  of  Placentia,  of 
which  the  name  "  Pleasants"  is  a  corruption. 

PLYMPTOK  Local  (Cor.  Br.)  From  Plym,  a  river,  and 
ton,  a  town.  The  town  situated  on  the  river  Plym,  in  Dev- 
onshire, England. 

POLK.  An  abbreviation  of  Pollock  (which  see).  Mr.  Polk,  the 
late  President,  is  third  in  descent  from  a  Mr.  Pollock. 

POLLARD.  A  tree  having  its  top  cut  off;  a  fish;  Poularde, 
French,  a  fat  chicken;  Pol,  Dutch,  a  loose  or  lewd  man, 
and  ard,  disposition.     Poule-ard,  chicken-hearted. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  219 

POLLEY.  Local.  From  Poilley,  in  the  province  of  Orleans, 
France,  whence  the  family  originally  came. 

POLLOCK.  Local.  Derived  from  the  parish  of  Pollock^  in 
Eenfrew^shire,  Scotland.  The  name  is  from  the  Gaelic  Pol- 
lag^  "  a  littie,  pool,  pit,  or  pond,"  a  diminutive  of  pol,  a  pool. 
It  is  vulgarly  pronounced  Pock  or  Polk. 

POMEROY.  (Fr.)  Pomme-roi,  a  kind  of  apple,  the  royal 
apple,  king's  apple,  or  king  of  apples;  a  name  probably 
given  to  a  gardener  for  his  skill  in  raising  them,  or  a  name 
of  place  vv^here  such  apples  were  raised. 

POIN'DEXTER.  (Fr.)  The  same  as  Hotspur,  or  spur  the 
steed ;  poin  being  derived  from  pungo,  to  pierce,  to  prick, 
and  deader,  right,  as  opposed  to  left ;  a  word  expressive  of 
readiness  of  limbs,  adroitness,  expertness,  and  skill. 

POITEYIN.     A  name  given  to  a  native  of  Poitou,  France. 

POOLE.  Local.  A  small  collection  of  water  in  a  hoUow  place, 
supplied  by  a  spring ;  a  small  lake.  "  John  at  the  Pool,"  be- 
came "  John  Pool."     A  town  in  Dorsetshire,  England. 

POPE.     Greek  and  Latin,  Papa,  father. 

PORCHER.  This  name  originated  with  Simon  Le  Porcher, 
hereditary  grand  huntsman  to  Louis  Capel,  Eang  of  France, 
from  whose  ofl&cial  duty  of  slaying  the  hoar,  the  name  is 
derived. 

PORSON.  The  same  as  Parson,  or  a  corruption  of  Power-son, 
the  son  of  Power. 

POWERS.     (Welsh.)     From  Powyr,  a  descendant  of  Leod, 

who  was  the  father  of  Mandebrog  or  Mandubratius. 
POWELL.     A  contraction  of  the  Welsh  Ap  HoweU,  the  son  of 
Howell.     It  may  also  be  deduced  from  Paul,  of  which  it  was 
a  former  orthography : 

"  After  the  text  of  Crist,  and  Powel,  and  Jon." 

"Weight's  Chaucer,  '7229. 
POTTER.     One  who  makes  earthen  vessels. 
POTTINGER.     An  apothecary  is  so  called  in  Scotland. 


220  ETYMOLOGICAL  DICTIONARY 

POULTOK  Local  From  the  town  of  Poulton,  in  Lancashire, 
England,  also  a  place  near  Marlborough,  in  Wiltshire,  so 
called  from  Poo\  a  small  lake,  and  ton,  a  town. 

POYNDER.     A  bailiff,  one  who  distrains. 

PEATT.  From  the  Latin  Pratum,  a  meadow.  Prat,  in  the 
Dutch,  signifies  proud,  arrogant,  cimning. 

PRESCOT.  (Welsh.)  Local  From  Prescot,  a  small  town  in 
England,  so  called  from  Prys,  a  coppice,  and  cwt,  a  cottage. 

PEESSLEY.  Local  A  coppice,  from  the  Welsh  Prys, 
shrubs,  brushwood ;  GaeHc,  preas,  bushes,  shrubs,  and  Zfe,  a 
place,  meadow  or  pasture  lands. 

PEESTON.  Local  A  town  m  Lancashire,  England.  The 
town  in  the  coppice,  or  the  bushy  hill,  from  Prys  and  ton  ; 
also,  Preston,  the  town  where  brass  is*  found  or  manufac- 
tured, from  Pres,  brass,  Welsh. 

PEICE.     (Welsh.)     A  corruption  of  Ap  Bice,  the  son  of  Eice. 

PEICHAED.  (Welsh.)  A  contraction  of  Ap  Richard,  the 
son  of  Eichard. 

PEIDEAUX.     (Fr.)     From  PresdJeaux,  near  the  water. 

PEINDLE.    A  croft  or  smaU  field. 

PEING-LE.  Local  PrencyU,  a  hazel-wood,  from  prem,,  Welsh, 
a  wood,  and  cyU  or  coll,  hazel  Pringle,  an  obsolete  Scottish 
coin. 

PEODGEES,  PEOaEES,  or  PEOQEE.    A  contraction  of  ^p 

Roger,  the  son  of  Eoger. 
PEOVOOST  or  PEOOST.     A  name  of  office,  a  president  of  a 

college ;  the  chief  magistrate  of  a  city. 
PUG-H  or  P  YE.     A  contraction  of  Ap  Hugh,  the  son  of  Hugh, 

"  u"  having  in  Welsh  the  sound  of  "  y." 
PUTNAM.     (Dutch.)     From  Put  or  Putten,  a  well,  and  ham, 

a  house  or  town.     Welltown,  or  the  house  by  the  well. 
PUTZKAMMEE.     (Grer.)     A  dressing-chamber,  a  room  for 

dress  and  ornaments ;  a  chamberlain. 


OF   FAMILY    NAMES.  221 

PYE.     A  contraction  of  Ap  Hugh  (see  Pugh) ;  also,  a  bird ; 

there  was  an  old  sign  of  a  pye  over  an  inn  in  London  called 

Pye  Corner. 
QUACKENBOSS.     (Dutch.)     Quickenhosch,  a  thicket,  a  grove 

of  roan-tree,  mountain-ash,  a  species  of  service-tree. 

QUENTIN  or  QUINTIN.  From  the  Latin  Quintus,  "the 
fifth,"  a  name  given  to  the  fifth  son.  Quentin,  a  town  in 
Cotes  du  Nord,  France,  so  called  fi-om  St.  Quentin,  who  died 
there. 

QUIGLY.  Gaelic,  Cuigealach,  of  or  belonging  to  a  distaflf  or 
hand  rock ;  perhaps  a  thrifty  person,  or  from  resembling  a 
distafi"  in  bodily  peculiarity. 

QUIN.    Local     From  Quin,  a  village  in  Clare  county,  Ireland* 

EADCLIFF.  Local.  A  place  in  Lancashire,  England,  so 
called  from  a  clifi"  of  red  rock. 

EADFORD.     (Cor.  Br.)     The  fern  way. 

RADLAND.     (Cor.  Br.)     The  fern  land. 

RADNOR.     (Cor.  Br.)     The  enclosure  of  ferns. 

RAFFLES.     (Danish.)      From  Eaefel,  long-lubber,  lath-back, 

inactive,  sluggish. 
RAINSFORD.     Local.    A  corruption  of  Ravensford. 

RALEIGH.  Rhawlaw,  in  the  Welsh,  signifies  a  lieutenant,  a 
vicar ;  and  Rheoli,  to  govern,  to  rule.  It  may  be  local,  from 
Ral,  Raoul  or  Ralph,  and  leigh,  or  ley,  a  field  or  place. 

RALPH.  (Sax.)  From  Rod,  counsel,  and  ulph,  help,  French, 
Raoul,  Latin,  Rodolphics,  a  helper,  a  counselor. 

RALSTON.  Local.  Ralph,  one  of  the  descendants  of  Mac 
Dufi",  Thane  of  Fife,  obtained  a  grant  of  land  in  Renfrew- 
shire, and,  as  was  common  in  those  days,  called  the  place 
after  himself,  Ralphstown,  which  was  softened  into  Ralston. 

RAMAGE.    Branches  of  trees ;  a  coppice  where  birds  sing. 


222  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

EAMSEY.  Local.  From  Ea^  Saxon,  water,  or  an  isle,  and 
Ram,  Ram's  Isle,  a  place  in  Huntingdonshire,  England; 
where  the  family  originated,  and  afterward  settled  in  Scot- 
land. Ramus,  Latin,  branches,  young  trees — the  isle  of  un- 
derbrush, branches,  or  young  trees ;  a  place  where  cattle 
browse.  Reomasey,  Saxon,  from  Reoma,  the  rim,  edge,  ex- 
tremity, a  border,  and  ey,  an  island. 

EAMSDEK  (Sax.)  Local  The  winding  valley,  or  the  ex- 
tremity of  the  valley. 

RAN.     (Sax.)    Pure,  clear. 

RAND.     (Dutch.)     The  border,  a  borderer. 

RANDAL,  RANDOLPH,  or  RANDULPH.  ,  (Sax.)  These 
names,  have  the  same  signification.  Fair-help,  from  Ran, 
fair,  and  ulph,  help. 

RANDER.  Local,  (aaehc  and  Welsh.)  A  tract  of  land  on 
a  point  or  promontory.  Rand,  Danish,  the  rim,  border, 
edge. 

RANKIN.  This  name  may  be  derived  from  the  Danish  Rank, 
right,  upright,  erect.  If  the  name  is  GaeHc,  it  would  come 
from  Roinn,  a  promontory,  share,  or  division,  and  Ceann, 
head ;  the  head  of  the  promontory,  a  name  of  place.  Ran^ 
hen,  in  the  Dutch,  signifies  pranks,  tricks. 

RANNEY.  Local.  Renaix,  Reinow,  or  Renais,  a  town  of 
Switzerland.  Ren6  (Latin,  renatus),  renewed,  born  again, 
regenerated. 

RANSOM,  RANSOME.  The  price  paid  for  redemption  fi:om 
captivity  or  punishment. 

RATHBONE.     (Sax.)     An  early  gift. 

RAPP.  Rap,  in  Danish,  is  swift,  nimble.  Rap,  Dutch,  nimble, 
quick ;  "  rap  gasten,"  a  nimble  feUow. 

RAWDON.  Local.  From  the  lands  of  Royden,  near  Leeds, 
in  Yorkshire,  England. 


OP    FAMILY    NAMES.  228 

RAWLEY.     (Welsh.)    Rhawlaw,  a  vicax.    (Evans.) 

RAWLIlSTGrS.  From  Raou\  French  for  Ralph,  and  the  pa- 
tronymic termination  ings  ; — Ralph's  son. 

RAWLmSON,    The  son  of  Rawlings. 

RAWSOK  A  corruption  of  Ravenson,  or  it  may  be  Ralph's 
son. 

RAT.  This  name  may  have  several  origins.  Ruadh  and 
Reagh,  Gaelic,  swarthy,  red,  sandy  complexioned.  Re,  the 
moon.  Ray,  a  beam  of  light,  luster.  Re,  from  ruo,  to  rush, 
applied  to  a  stream,  rapids,  whence  the  river  Reay,  in  Caith- 
ness, Scotland.  Rea,  Cor.  Br.,  wonderful,  strange.  Rhe, 
Welsh,  a  run,  Rhedu,  to  run.  Rhae,  Welsh,  a  battle,  the 
place  of  a  battle ;  a  chain. 

RAYMER.  (Dutch.)  Roemur,  one  who  extols,  praises,  boasts. 
Raumer,  German,  a  person  employed  in  clearing  or  cleaning. 

RAYMOND.  (Teut.)  From  Rein,  pure,  and  mund,  mouth ; 
pure  mouth,  one  who  abstains  from  wanton  discourses. 
Raymund,  German,  quiet  peace. 

RAYNER.  (Danish.)  Raner,  a  leader  of  the  Danes,  who  in- 
vaded Britain ;  a  pirate,  a  robber,  a  term  given  to  a  warrior. 

RECORD.  The  same  as  Rikerd,  or  Richard,  of  which  it  is  a 
corruption,  liberal-hearted,  rich  in  disposition. 

REDDEN  or  RODDEK  Local.  (Cor.  Br.)  A  place  of  ferns. 
Rodon,  a  town  in  Bretagne,  France. 

REDDENHURST.  Local.  Reddon,  Cor.  Br.,  fern,  and  hurst, 
Saxon,  a  wood  or  grove. 

REED  and  READ.  (Sax.)  From  Rede,  advice,  counsel,  help, 
or  from  the  fenny  plant,  a  reed. 

REESE,  RHEESE.     (Cor.  Br.)     Pushing,  violent ;  a  strong  or 
powerful  man.     Riese,  in  German,  signifies  a  giant     Welsh, 
s,  a  rushing.     Rees,  a  town  of  Germany,  on  the  Rhine. 


224  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

REEVES.  From  Reeve^  a  bailiff,  provost,  or  steward,  Shire- 
reeve,  Wood-reeve,  (Sheriff,  Woodruff.) 

EEmARD  and  REYNARD.  (Teut.  or  Sax.)  From  i2em, 
pure,  and  ard,  nature,  disposition ;  honest,  incorrupt. 

KEINHART.     (Dutch.)     A  pure  heart,  from  rein,  pure. 

BENARD.     (Fr.)    A  fox,  cunning. 

EETZ.    Local    A  town  in  Moravia. 

REYNOLDS.  (Sax.)  Sincere  or  pure  love  from,  ETiem,  pure, 
and  hold,  the  old  English  for  love.  It  also  may  signify 
strong  or  firm  hold. 

REYNOLDSON.    The  son  of  Reynolds. 

BHEFELDT.  The  deer-field,  from  the  Dutch  rhee,  a  roe,  and 
feldt,  a  field. 

RHODES.  Local  From  the  island  of  Rhodes,  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean Sea.     Rhodes,  a  town  in  Guienne,  France. 

RIAN.  Gaehc,  Ria,  a  provincial  chief.  Rian,  manner,  order, 
arrangement,  sobriety,  good  disposition. 

RICE.  Another  form  of  Rys,  Welsh,  to  rush,  a  rushing ;  figur- 
atively, a  hero,  a  brave,  impetuous  man.  The  same  as 
Rees. 

RICH.    Wealthy,  opulent ;  anciently,  great,  noble,  powerful 

RICHARD  or  RIO  ARD.  (Sax.)  Of  a  powerful,  rich,  or  gen- 
erous disposition,  from  ric,  rich,  and  ard,  nature  or  disposi- 
tion. 

RICHARDSON.     The  son  of  Richard. 

RICHMOND.  (Sax.)  From  ric,  rich,  and  mimd,  mouth — 
rich-mouth;  figuratively,  eloquent. 

RICKETTS.    A  corruption  of  Rimrds,  from  Richard  (which 

see). 
RIDDELL,    Local.    From  lands  in  the  county  of  Yorkshire, 

formerly  called  the  Ryedcdes. 


OF    FAMILY   NAMES.  226 

BIDDER  and  RITTER.     The  same  as  Ruyter,  a  knight,  a 
chevalier. 

RIGGrS.  From  the  Danish  rig^  wealthy,  rich;  or  the  name 
may  be  local,  and  denoting  a  steep  elevation,  a  range  of 
hills,  or  the  upper  part  of  such  a  range. 

RING".  (Dutch.)  Local.  A  Canton;  a  district  of  an  eccle- 
siastical congregation. 

RINGE.  ^Danish.)  Mean,  low,  small,  little;  a  ring,  circle. 
Local,  a  round  place. 

RINGGOLD.  (Welsh.)  Local.  Rhingol,  a  cleft,  cM*,  or 
steep  bank. 

RIPLEY.  Local.  A  market-town  in  west  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land, from  the  Saxon  rypan^  to  divide  or  separate,  and  ley^ 
uncultivated  lands,  a  pasture. 

ROBERTS.  (Sax.)  From  Rod^  counsel,  and  lert  or  herichf, 
bright  or  famous — ^famous  in  counsel 

ROBY.  (Danish.)  From  Ro,  rest,  repose,  and  hy,  a  town — 
the  peaceftil  town. 

ROCHESTER.  Local.  From  a  city  in  Kent,  England,  so 
called  from  Roche,  French,  a  rock,  and  Chester,  from  the 
Latin  castrum.,  a  city  or  castle ;  an  uneven,  rough,  and  stony 
place.  Reoh,  Saxon,  and  Rauh,  German,  signify  rough,  rug- 
ged, uneven.     (See  Chester.) 

ROCHFORT.    Local.     A  town  of  France—"  the  strong  rock." 

ROE.     (Gaelic.)     Red-haired.    Nor.  Fr.,  Rou,  Rufus. 

ROEMER.     (Dutch.)     From  Roem,  glory,  renown;  a  praiser, 

a  boaster. 
ROGER.      (Teutonic.)      Rhu,  rest,  quiet,  peace,  and  gard,  a 

keeper;  or  Rhu-geren,  one  desirous  of  rest;  Rodgarus,  all 

counsel  or  strong  counsel. 
ROLAND,  ROLLIN,  and  RODLAND.     (Sax.)    Counsel  for 

the  land. 

20* 


226  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

EOMAINE.     The  same  as  Roman,  from  Rome ;  also,  strong. 

ROMANNO.  Local.  From  lands  in  the  county  of  Peebles, 
Scotland,  so  called  from  a  Roman  military  way,  leading  from 
the  famous  Roman  camp  at  Line  to  the  Lothians,  which 
passed  through  the  middle  of  those  lands,  from  which  they 
were  called  Romanno. 

ROOF.  Probably  the  same  as  Reeve,  an  ofl&cer  or  steward. 
Ruf^  German,  reputation,  famous,  renowned. 

ROORBACK.     (Dutch.)    Noisy  brook.    A  town  in  Bavaria, 
G-ermany. 

ROOT.  Local  A  place  lying  low,  the  base,  foot,  or  bottom 
of  a  mountain,  the  lower  part  of  land. 

ROSENCRAlSrS.  (Danish.)  RosenJcrands,  a  garland  of  roses ; 
in  Dutch,  the  place  of  rose-trees. 

ROSEYELDT.     (Dutch.)    The  field  of  roses. 

ROSS.  (G-aelic.)  Local  A  shire  of  Scotland.  Ros,  a  penin- 
sula, an  isthmus,  a  promontory.  Rhos,  in  Welsh,  is  a  moor, 
a  bog.  Ros,  in  Cor.  Br,,  is  a  mountain,  a  meadow,  a  com- 
mon.    Rose  and  Rosh  signify  a  valley  or  dale  between  hills. 

ROSWELL.  Rosveldt,  the  rose-field ;  Rosville,  the  town  on 
the  heath  or  promontory. 

ROTH.     (G-erman.)     Red  color. 

ROTHSCHILD  or  ROSCHILD.  From  a  town  in  Denmark, 
which  is  said  to  take  its  name  from  a  river  with  which  it  is 
watered  that  drives  several  mills.  Roe,  in  the  ancient 
Danish  language,  signifies  a  king,  and  kiUe,  a  stream  of 
water  or  brook,  i.  e.,  the  king's  brook.  Some  have  given 
the  signification  "  Red-shield"  to  the  name,  fi-om  Roth,  red. 

ROUSE.     (Fr.)     Red,  red-haired,  same  as  Rufiis. 

ROTJSSEAIJ.  (Fr.)  One  having  reddish  hair,  carrot  color. 
Ritisseau,  local,  a  brook. 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  227 

ROWE.  Local.  A  river  that  overflows  its  banks.  Rowe, 
Rue,  Fr.,  a  street ;  Roe,  Gaelic,  red-haired. 

ROWEL.     Local     From  the  river  Rouel,  in  the  Netherlands. 

ROWEK  Local.  A  town  in  Bohemia;  Rouen,  a  town  in 
France ;  Rowan,  a  tree,  the  mountain-ash. 

ROWLE.  (Cor.  Br.)  Rule,  order,  law;  Rheol,  Welsh,  rule, 
law. 

ROWLEY.  (Sax.)  Local.  From  Row,  sweet  or  pleasant, 
and  ley,  a  field. 

ROWNTREE.  Rowan-tree,  the  mountain-ash,  so  named  fi-om 
that  kind  of  tree  growing  near  the  premises. 

ROY.  (G-aelic.)  Ruadh,  Roe,  Roy,  red-haired ;  also  Roye,  a 
town  in  England.     Roi,  French,  king,  whence  Le  Roy. 

RUFTJS.     (Fr.)     Red,  from  the  color  of  the  hair. 

RUE.  Local.  From  Reaux,  in  Hainault,  Netherlands.  Fr., 
Rus,  a  street. 

RUG-GLES.    Local    A  town  of  France,  on  the  Eure. 

RUNDELL.  A  contraction  of  Arundle  (which  see).  Rundle 
also  signifies  a  sparrow. 

RUNNION  or  RUNON.     (Gaelic.)     A  small  hiU. 

RUSBRIDGE.  Local  From  the  town  of  Rousbrugge,  in 
Germany. 

RUSS.    A  Russian,  so  called  in  Holland. 

RUSSELL.  (Fr.)  Red-haired,  somewhat  reddish;  carrot- 
color. 

RtrSSEY.    Local    A  town  in  Doubs,  France. 

RUTGERS.  (Dutch.)  Rudgert,  the  same  as  Roger,  quiet, 
tranquil;  one  desirous  of  rest,  a  keeper  of  rest;  RodgaruSj 
strong  counsel 


228  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

EUTHERFORD.  Local.  From  the  lands  of  Rutherford  on 
the  river  Tweed,  in  the  parish  of  Maxton,  Roxburgshire, 
Scotland.  The  name  is  derived  from  the  Welsh  Buthr, 
rushing,  swift,  andjffbrdj  a  ford  or  way. 

RUTHYEK  From  the  lands  and  barony  of  Ruthven,  in 
Perthshire,  Scotland ;  a  river  of  the  same  name ;  "  Ruithah- 
hainn,'"  i.  e.,  the  rushing  or  swift  stream. 

RUYTER.  A  knight  or  chevalier,  in  the  Dutch  or  German, 
and  sometimes  written  Ritier,  having  the  same  signification 
as  the  Enghsh  Rider. 

RYDER.  A  forest  officer,  being  mounted,  and  having  the 
supervision  of  a  large  district.  In  the  ballad  of  WiUiam  of 
Cloudesly,  the  king,  rewarding  the  dexterity  of  the  archer 
who  shot  the  apple  from  his  child's  head,  says : 

"  I  give  thee  eightene  pence  a  day, 
And  my  bowe  thou  shalt  here ; 
And  over  all  the  north  coimtre 
I  make  thee  chyfe  rydere.^^ 

RYE.  (French.)  Local.  From  Rive,  a  coast,  a  shore,  a  bank, 
border. 

RYNDERS.  Local.  A  town  in  North  Jutland ;  the  same  as 
Rander. 


SACKVILLE.  A  corruption  of  the  Latin  De  Sicca  viUa,  that 
is,  from  the  dry  town. 

SAFFORD.  Local.  A  corruption  of  Seaford,  a  town  of  Sus- 
sex, England. 

SALES.  SahJ,  or  sadlj  in  German,  signifies  a  hall  or  court 
French,  salle.  The  name  may  be  local,  and  derived  from 
the  river  Sale,  in  France,  or  Saal,  a  river  in  Bavaria. 

SALISBURY  or  SARISBURY.  (Sax.)  Local  A  city  and 
capital  of  Wiltshire,  England.     The  town  of  health ;  the  dry 


OF   FAMILY    NAMES.  220 

town.  Tlie  old  town  of  Salisbury  anciently  stood  upon  a 
hill  where  there  was  no  water,  but  it  is  now  situated  in  a 
valley,  and  a  little  brook  runs  through  the  streets.  The 
name  was  sometimes  written  Salusbury,  that  is,  the  healthy 
hOl  or  town. 

SALTER.    A  name  of  trade,  one  who  sells  salt. 

SANDFORD.  Local.  From  Sandford,  a  place  in  Westmore- 
land, England — the  sand-ford. 

SANDS.  (Danish.)  Sense,  wit;  or  it  may  be  from  Scmd^ 
Sandy,  a  Scottish  abbreviation  of  Alexander. 

SANG-STER.     (Scottish.)    A  song-maker  or  singer. 

SANXAY.  (Fr.)  Local.  From  the  town  of  Sanxay,  in 
Poitou,  France. 

SATERLEE.  Local.  A  place  in  England  where  Saturn  was 
worshiped  by  the  pagan  Saxons. 

SAXE.  A  Saxon,  so  called  in  HoUand.  In  Athelstan's  song 
of  victory,  given  in  the  Saxon  Chronicles,  a.d.  938,  secce  sig- 
nifies a  fight;  secga,  a  warrior ;  seax  or  secce,  a  sword,  any 
sharp  instrument.     Latin,  sica,  a  dagger. 

SAXTON.  An  under  officer  of  the  church,  the  same  as  Sexton. 
Local,  Saoc-town,  a  town  of  the  Saxons. 

SCARBOROUGH.  (Sax.)  Local.  From  the  seaport  and 
borough  of  Scarborough,  in  Yorkshire,  England,  fi:om  scear^ 
a  sharp  rock  or  hill,  and  burgh,  a  town  or  fort ;  hterally,  a 
hill,  from  hergh.  The  town  or  fort  on  or  by  the  sharp- 
peaked  rocks. 

SOARRET.  Local  Scear,  a  rocky  clifi".  Scarard,  the  high 
clifi";  Leskerret,  a  market-town  in  Cornwall,  England.  The 
old  part  of  the  town  stands  upon  rocky  heights. 

SCARDSDALE.  A  valley  in  Devonshire,  England,  so  called 
from  the  Saxon  scearres,  indented  or  sharp  disjointed  rocks 
called  scars,  and  dale,  a  valley. 


230  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

SOHAFFER.  (Dutch.)  He  that  dishes  up  or  provides  vic- 
tuals.    Shaffer,  G-erman,  a  shepherd,  a  pastor,  a  swain. 

SCHELL.     (Old  English.)    A  sprmg. 

SCHELLDEK  (Old  Enghsh.)  The  spring  in  the  vaUey,  from 
schdl,  a  spring,  and  dene,  a  valley.  SkeU  is  also  a  vrell^  ia 
the  old  northern  English. 

SCHENCK.  (G-er.)  From  schenke,  an  inn  or  public  house ;  a 
name  of  place. 

SCHERMERHORN.  (DutcL)  From  Shermer,  a  fencer,  and 
hoorn,  a  horn,  which  emblematically  expresses  strength  or 
power. 

SOHOONHOVEK  (Dutch.)  From  the  name  of  a  town  in 
South  Holland,  and  signifies  fine  gardens  or  courts,  from 
schoon,  beautiful,  and  hof,  plural,  hoven,  gardens  or  courts. 

SCHOONMAKER.  (Dutch.)  From  Schoenmalcer,  a  shoe- 
maker. 

SCHUYLER.  (Dutch.)  Van  Schuykr,  from  the  place  of 
shelter.  Schuiler,  a  hider;  Schuil,  a  shelter,  a  hiding- 
place.     Schuler,  German,  a  scholar. 

SCOTT.  A  native  of  Scotland.  Nennius  uses  both  Scythes 
and  Scotti  indifierently.  Strabo  considers  Scythce  and  Nb- 
mades  synonymous  terms.  The  original  word  in  Ossian  is 
Scuta,  which  literaEy  signifies  "  restless  wanderer,"  hence 
the  propriety  of  the  name  Scuite  or  Scot. 

SCRANTON.  (Dutch.)  From  schrantsen,  to  tear,  seize,  or 
break,  so  named,  perhaps,  from  his  warlike  propensities. 

SCROGGS.  Local.  From  Scrog,  a  stunted  shrub,  bush,  or 
branch,  given  probably  from  the  location  of  the  dwelling. 

SEAFORD.  Local.  From  a  seaport  town  of  that  name  in 
Sussex,  England. 

SEAFORTH.  Local  The  name  of  a  projection  of  the  sea  on 
the  east  coast  of  Lewis,  on  the  Long  Island,  Scotland — "  the 
forth  or  frith  of  the  sea." 


OF    FAMILY   NAMES.  231 

SEAYER.  (G-aelic.)  Saihher,  rich;  Sever,  local,  a  town  in 
France. 

SEAMAN.     A  sailor,  one  who  follows  the  sea. 

SEARS.  (Cor.  Br.)  From  sair,  a  carpenter  or  sawyer; 
Welsh,  saer  ;  G-aelic,  saor,  a  carpenter. 

SEATON.  Local.  That  is,  sea-town,  a  parish  in  Perthshire, 
formerly  called  Errol.     (See  Seton.) 

SEBRIGHT.  From  Se,  Saxon,  used  the  same  as  the  article 
the,  and  bright.     The  illustrious,  the  renowned. 

SEDGWICK.  The  town  or  harbor  abounding  with  sedge, 
wick,  a  town  or  harbor. 

SEGUR.  (Ger.)  Powerful,  victorious,  from  sieg,  victory. 
Dutch,  zege. 

SEIX.    Local.    A  town  in  Arriege,  France. 

SELBT.  Local.  A  market-town  in  west  Yorkshire,  England, 
on  the  Ouse.  Danish,  Seile,  to  sail,  to  navigate,  and  hy,  a 
town,     Seil,  a  sail.    A  place  of  boats  or  sails. 

SELKIRK.  Local.  A  borough  town  of  Scotland.  CeWdrh, 
a  religious  house.  A  cell  was  anciently  that  part  of  a  tem- 
ple within  the  walls.  Sel-carrik,  Cor.  Br.,  the  high  rock ; 
Sel,  a  view,  a  prospect,  Welsh,  syllu,  to  look,  and  carrik  or 
craig,  a  rock. 

SELLENGER.  A  corruption  of  St.  Leger,  and  that  from  St. 
Leodeger. 

SELLICK.  (Cor.  Br.)  Local.  A  name  of  place,  and  signifies 
in  open  view,  remarkable,  conspicuous.  CrugseUick,  in 
Verian,  the  barrow  in  open  view,  from  sel,  a  view. 

SEMARD.     A  corruption  of  St.  Medard. 

SEMPLE  or  SIMPLE.     A  corruption  of  St.  Paul. 


2S2  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

SETON.  Local.  From  lands  of  that  name  in  Haddingtonshire, 
Scotland,  which  were  so  called  because  the  town  thereof 
was  situated  close  upon  the  sea,  and  which  gave  name  to 
the  family  of  Seton,  so  renowned  in  Scottish  annals. 

SEVERN.  Local.  A  river  rising  in  the  mountam  Plynlimmon, 
in  "Wales. 

SEVERINS.    Local    Mountains  in  Languedoc,  France. 

SEWARD.  High  admiral,  who  kept  the  sea  against  pirates, 
from  sea,  and  ward,  a  keeper. 

SEWALL  and  SEWELL.  Probably  from  sea  and  wall,  a 
structure  of  stone  or  other  materials  intended  for  a  defense 
or  security  against  the  sea.  This  name,  though  seemingly 
local,  may  have  various  significations ;  suil,  in  the  G-aelic,  is 
a  willow ;  suail,  small,  inconsiderable.  Su,  south,  and  wold, 
wald,  wild,  well,  an  uncultivated  place,  a  wood,  a  plain,  a 
lawn,  hiUs  without  wood :  Suwold,  SuwdU,  SuweU. 

SEYMOUR.    A  corruption  of  St.  Maurus. 

SHADDOCK  or  SCHADECK.  Local.  The  name  of  a  lord- 
ship in  G-ermany. 

SHAN".     (Celtic.)     Old ;  shanty,  an  old  house. 

SHANACH.     (Gaelic.)     Sionnach,  a  fox. 

SHANE.    The  Celtic  for  John. 

SHANNON.  (GraeHc.)  From  the  Shannon,  a  river  of  Ireland. 
The  tranquU,  gentle  river,  from  sen,  gentle,  and  abhain,  a 
river.  Shan-eon,  the  tranquil  river.  S  before  a  vowel,  in 
the  Gaelic,  has  the  sound  of  sh.  The  river  Seine,  in  France, 
has  the  same  signification.  Shanon — the  ancient  river,  from 
sean,  old,  and  oun  or  ohhain,  a  river. 

SHAW.  (Scotch.)  A  lawn,  a  plain  surrounded  by  trees,  or  an 
open  space  between  woods. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  233 

SHELDON.  (Cor.  Br.)  Local.  The  spring  in  the  valley, 
from  scheU^  a  spring,  and  dene^  a  small  valley. 

SHELLEY.  Local.  Derived  from  Shelley,  in  Essex,  Suffolk, 
and  Yorkshire,  England,  from  Schelly  a  spring,  and  ley,  a 
field. 

SHEPPY.  Local.  From  an  island  in  the  county  of  Kent,  so 
called  from  the  Saxon  Sceajp-JEa,  or  Sceap-Ige,  that  is,  the 
Sheep's  Isle,  because  sheep  abundantly  multiphed  there; 
called  also  Ovini,  from  the  Latin  ovis,  a  sheep. 

SHERARD.  Said  to  be  derived  from  one  Scirrard,  who  came 
with  William  the  Conqueror,  and  obtained  lands  in  Chester 
and  Lancaster,  England.  As  a  local  name,  it  may  signify  in 
Anglo  Saxon,  a  high  cliff;  rocky  heights,  from  Scearard. 

SHERLOCK.  (GaeUc.)  From  Saor,  pronounced  as  with  "  W* 
after  the  "/S^"  signifying  clear,  and  hch,  a  lake,  the  clear 
lake. 

SHERMAN".    A  shearman,  one  who  used  to  shear  cloth. 

"  Yillain,  thy  fether  was  a  plasterer,  and  thou  thyself  a  shearmcm?^ 
Stafford  to  Jack  Cade.    Shaks.  Henry  VL 

SHERWOOD.  From  the  Saxon  sTwr  (scir),  clear,  and  wood,  a 
clearing  in  the  wood,  or  the  cleared  woods ;  or  as  Bailey  gives 
the  word,  ^^ Sheer-wood,  in  Nottinghamshire."  It  may  be 
derived  from  shire,  (Sax.)  sdre,  (Ger.)  schier,  to  divide,  a 
portion  or  division  of  land;  of  which  divisions  there  are 
forty  in  England,  twelve  in  Wales,  and  twenty-four  in  Scot- 
land. 

SHIEL.  Local.  A  river  and  loch  or  lake,  in  the  south-west 
of  Inverness-shire,  Scotland.  Shiels  were  shepherd's  huts,  a 
term  used  by  the  Northumbrian  Saxons,  to  denote  the  tem- 
porary shelters  of  shepherds. 

SHOLTIS.     (G-er.)     Schultheiss,  a  mayor,  magistrate. 

SHORT.    Alluding  to  stature,  not  talL 


234  ETTMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

SHREWSBURY.  Local.  A  town  in  Shropshire,  England, 
from  the  Saxon  Scrube,  a  shrub,  a  small  tree,  and  hurgh,  a 
town. 

SHRIEVES.  A  sheriJBF,  from  sdr  and  reeve,  the  bailiflf  of  a 
eJiire  or  division.     The  shire-reeve. 

SHUCK.  (Dutch.)  Signifies  twelve  or  a  dozen,  and  is  ap- 
phed  to  sheaves  in  a  harvest  field. 

SHUCKBURan.  Local  A  place  in  Warwickshire,  England. 
From  Saxon,  soc,  an  immunity,  privilege,  baronial  or  royal 
court,  and  hurgh,  a  town  or  city — a  privileged  place,  or 
place  possessing  a  particular  court  or  jurisdiction. 

SHURTLIFF.  Local  The  "short  clifif;"  separated,  cut  oflF, 
fi:om  the  Saxon,  sceort,  short,  and  clif. 

SHUTE.    Local    From  the  castle  of  Shute,  in  Normandy, 

France. 
SIDDONS.    (Welsh.)    From  syddyn,  a  farm— a  farmer. 
SIGrURD.     The  same  as  Segur,  powerful 
SIKES.    Local    A  small  spring  well 
SIMEOK     (Heb.)    Hearing. 
SIMMONS.    A  corruption  of  Simeon  or  Simon. 
SIMS.     A  contraction  of  Simeon  or  Simon,  the  son  of  Sim. 

SINCLAIR.  A  corruption  of  St  Clair,  and  that  fi-om  St 
Clara,  from  the  Latin  clarus,  pure,  renowned,  illustrious. 

SINGEN  and  SINDEN.  A  corruption  of  St  John,  which  is 
generally  pronounced  Singen. 

SISSON.    Local     Derived  fi-om  Sissonne,  a  town  in  France. 

SKEFFINGTON.  (Sax.)  Local.  From  sceap,  a  sheep,  and 
ton,  a  town.  The  sheep-town.  The  name  of  a  small  village 
in  England. 

SKELTON.    (Sax.)    Local    The  hiU  of  separation  or  bound- 


OP   FAMILY   NAMES. 


235 


SKEIlTE.  Some  derive  their  names,  as  well  as  their  arms,  from 
some  considerable  action,  and  thus,  it  is  said,  a  second  son 
of  one  Struan  Eobertson,  for  killing  a  wolf  in  Stocket  Forest, 
Athol,  Scotland,  with  a  dirh,  in  the  king's  presence,  got  the 
name  of  Skene,  which  signifies  a  dirk,  Gaelic,  Sgian,  and 
three  dirk-points  in  pale  for  liis  arms.  Skians,  Cor.  Brit., 
implies  witty,  skillful,  knowing. 

SKIDMORB  or  SCUDMORE.     (Cor.  Br.)     From  scondh,  or 
scidJi,  the  shoulders,  and  mor,  big,  large. — ^Broad  shouldera 
,  ,.,      ,,    ,     „  Slnhpidmuur.  Dntch.  a  partition  or  division  waJL 
like  all  the  Smiths  in  general  and  the  iflustrioua  L  ^^        .  i, 
John  m  particular,  derive  your  name  from  the  P^^^^  '^®^^- 

nTon  !r«''t  \  ^";^f  r  '°^  ^^^^^^^^  ^^^^^  \  «%  of  ground  between 
j  n  yon  are,  perhaps  the  following  table,  exhibiting  T      ^        ^ 
the  births,  marriages  and  deaths  of  your  tribe  for 
one  year  in  England,  and  as  contrasted  withthoae 
of  other  familiar  names,  may  prove  interesting  • 


^»iith 6688 

^*J.lo^; 2647 

S"^^* 1398 

y*'fcer 1324 

^^"'•"ei- 1217 

Cooper 1103 

^^^^■- 1096 

^^H**"" • 1033 

gof 910 

barker 824 


^ftbs-  Deaths.  Marriages 


40ii 
2276 
1142 
1070 
1011 
950 
952 
839 
742 
694 


300S 
1518 
729 
754 
680 
640 
635 
513 
483 
471 


mountain,  a  mountaineer. 
)r  one  who  carries  goods 


surnames,  and  might  of 
volume.  The  word  is  de- 
%n,  to  smite  or  strike. 

be  he  knight  or  squire, 
at  the  fire  ?" 

Verstegan. 


The  great  number  of  the  family  of  Smiths  ac- 
cording to  the  Westminster  Review,  seems  tJ  be 
owing  to  this,  that  the  Smith  of  the  age  when 
suruamcs  first  became  hereditary,  included  in  his 
mystery  the  work  which  Wheeler,  Cartwrirrht  and  I'ith  ranked  third  in  dignity 
other  Wrights  afterwards  performed     Tfaa°fi,™;i^  Ji    •     r  -r^ 

of  Lefevre  in  French,  is m'uch ^numerous  than  H^^^f  ^  ^^^^^^^^  ^^^P<^^«' 
that  of  the  English  Smiths.     The  generic  name  '^^®  ^^  ^^6°^' 

FranP«^fnr?hl'''  ^.S^'^^l^l  ''"^  ^^  *^^  «««fcl^  of  iS  which  a  viUain  (tenant) 

prance  for  this  northern  Schmidt  or  Smith,  is  do-  u  .1  ^     ^  i.-     i     a 

nved  from  the  Latin  Faber,  and  became  a  Bur  ^      ^  consent  of  his  lord, 

name  as  Lefevre;  so  also  Favre,  Faure,  and  Fabri' 

_   An  old  writer  quaintly  and  truly  says :  "Touchl 

SfitrV'!^^''?.'^"^"  Burnames  of  occupations,  as 

toh.A    ?t^°J'j!^?'^^°'^  such  others,  it  is  not 

to  be  doubted  but  their  ancestors  have  first  gotten 

them  by  uaing  such  trades,  and  the  children  of  such 

parents  being  contented  to  take  them  upon  them! 

their  after-commg  posterity  could  hardly  avoid 

them,  ana  so  in  time  cometb  it  righUy  to  be  said  • 

••From  whence  came  ^w.1%,  all  be  he  knight  or  sauira' 

But  from  the  Smith,  that  forgeth  at  the  Sre! ''  ^       ' 

A  proof  of  the  preeminence  of  the  Smiths  in  Phi- 
ladelphia  may  be  observed  in  the  fact  that  on  the 
Post  Office  pigeon-hole  for  advertised  letters,  while 
other  names  are  simply  indicated  by  A,  B,  C,  &c. 
Smith  ha^  an  entire  box  to  himself.  '        ' 

^-r 


rraft.  This  was  one  of  the 
a<l  a  more  comprehensive 
me.  The  smith  must  have 
;nt  branches  of  knowledge 
ely,  such  as  raising  the  ore, 


234  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

SHREWSBURY.  Local.  A  town  in  Shropshire,  England, 
from  the  Saxon  Scruhe,  a  shrub,  a  small  tree,  and  burgh,  a 
town. 

SHRIEVES.  A  sheriff,  from  scir  and  re&ve,  the  bailiff  of  a 
sJiire  or  division.     The  shire-reeve. 

SHUCK.  (DutcL)  Signifies  twelve  or  a  dozen,  and  is  ap- 
phed  to  sheaves  in  a  harvest  field. 

SHUCKBURQH.    Local    A  place  hi  Warwickshire,  England. 
From  Saxon,  soc,  an  immunity,  Ftior SiisJ   ^♦^^'^'^'^^  or  royal 
court,    and  hurgh,  i,  town  or  «^jJi,'''{™S'S!°'He"lfe-.';''|™  ^ 
place  possessing  a  parUcular  courlt.h,  wj°the  'S^,  mimj^^^-^k^" 

SHTJETLIFP.    Local     The  "Bhorto^ilS,,^J'ro'?f,',,';?|'?i,-P^^^^^^ 
from  the  Saxon,  eceort,  short,  ancC?^«i^?,l.T.S*hir<t^''i  ,„  „ 

SHUTE.    Local    From  the  castleS?o°5i,1d£mSaS'S.°4"lS=°"' »^° 

SIDDONS.  (Welsh.)  From  «yd*'!'^'SeV.tt^rr,f  pol^S^ii^r 
SIGURD.  The  same  as  Segur,  Po^lHSiHSf  T '' 
SIKES.  Local  A  small  spring  w'ltr/.ir.''JrJ'lS'«^rr^^ 
BB.O..  (Heh.)  Hearing.  ^3^1?^^ 
SIMMONS.  A  eoiTuption  of  Sim^^'^™  ?.^Jl^J,'M-,."f„f,n' 
SIMS.  A  contraction  of  Shneon  ot^! '^^i.J^^X^'i'--  \^'^po'u 
SmCLAIR      A  com^ption  of  S^H^Hi  "-S^.'H 

Clar,  from  the  Latin  c..™,  ^^:B^^^^  ^t^ 
SINGEIT  and  SINDEN.    A  corru  «f  "r  $30,  .0^011  iS^  h" wo„m'T"^k, 

generally  pronounced  iSi«gm.  C  ^t:\t.1,»t"acti;f,i„fpt-.5'|"i". 
SISSOK  Local  Derived  from  .^°  «ar.S?'.l!S^i"IS{!^^ 
SKEFFINGTON.     (Sax.)    LocalitCMr'^"';!.''',- £''-»>"«  «ou.j« 

^.  a  ,«wn.    The  sheep-town.?,  t-.*o;,a^.  S'S^FS-rT  " 

m  England.  'sV^oSA''"^'"^^^'^  sSj^. - 

SKELTON.    (Sa.)    Local    Th,£rB||Sr  "''="- 

.mUversary  Of  the  Order  of  Unit, 
Americans.  "* 

[From  the  Newark  AdverHaer,  25th  Mav  7 
ae  Seventh  Anniyersary  of  tbe  Order  of  UntV  ^ 

»th  'Set'  it  Wro^rsf^^  T"' "' "" 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  235 

SKE!N^.  Some  derive  their  names,  as  well  as  their  arms,  from 
some  considerable  action,  and  thus,  it  is  said,  a  second  son 
of  one  Struan  Kobertson,  for  killing  a  wolf  in  Stocket  Forest, 
Athol,  Scotland,  with  a  dirh,  in  the  king's  presence,  got  the 
name  of  Skene,  which  signifies  a  dirk,  Gaelic,  Sgian,  and 
three  dirk-points  in  pale  for  liis  arms.  SJcians,  Cor.  Brit., 
implies  witty,  skillful,  knowing. 

SKIDMORE  or  SCUDMORE.  (Cor.  Br.)  From  scoudh,  or 
scuih,  the  shoulders,  and  mor,  big,  large. — ^Broad  shoulders. 
Scheidmuur,  Dutch,  a  partition  or  division  waU. 

SLACK.    Local.    A  valley,  or  small  shallow  dell. 

SLADE.    Local.     A  long  flat  piece  or  slip  of  ground  between 

hills. 

SLAVEN.     (Celtic.)     From  sliahh,  a  mountain,  a  mountaineer. 

SLEEPER.  (Dutch.)  A  cartman,  or  one  who  carries  goods 
on  a  sledge. 

SMITH.  The  most  common  of  aU  surnames,  and  might  of 
itself  furnish  matter  enough  for  a  volume.  The  word  is  de- 
rived from  the  Anglo-Saxon  Smitan,  to  smite  or  strike. 

"  From  whence  comes  Smith,  all  be  he  knight  or  squire, 
But  from  the  Smith  that  forgeth  at  the  fire  ?" 

Yerstegan. 

Among  the  Highland  clans,  the  smith  ranked  third  in  dignity 
to  the  chief,  from  his  skiU  in  fabricating  military  weapons, 
and  his  dexterity  in  teaching  the  use  of  them. 

In  Wales  there  were  three  sciences  which  a  villain  (tenant) 
could  not  teach  his  son  without  the  consent  of  liis  lord, 
Scholarship,  JSardism,  and  Smithcraft.  This  was  one  of  the 
hberal  sciences,  and  the  term  had  a  more  comprehensive 
sense  than  we  give  to  it  at  this  tune.  The  smith  must  have 
imited  in  this  profession,  different  branches  of  knowledge 
which  are  now  practiced  separately,  such  as  raising  the  ore, 
converting  it  into  metal,  etc. 


S55q  etymological  dictionary 

The  term  was  originally  applied  to  artificers  in  wood  as  well 
as  metal,  in  fact,  to  all  mechanical  workmen,  which  accomits 
for  the  great  frequency  of  the  name. 

The  New  York  City  Directory  for  1856  (in  which  the  names 
of  the  heads  of  families  only,  are  given,)  contains  the  names 
Df  more  than  eighteen  hundred  Smiths,  of  whom  seventy- 
four  are  plain  James  Smiths,  and  one  hundred  and  seventeen, 
John  Smiths  1 

We  see  in  the  papers,  that  John  Smith  dies,  is  married,  hanged, 
drowned,  and  brutally  murdered,  daily !  John  Smith  doesn't 
identify  anybody,  and  is  therefore  no  name  at  all. 

This  numerous  family  is  the  subject  of  many  laughable  anec- 
^  dotes  and  witty  sallies.  A  wag,  on  a  certain  occasion, 
coming  late  to  the  theater,  and  wishing  to  get  a  seat, 
shouted  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  ''  Mr.  Smith's  house  is  on 
fire  1"  The  house  was  thinned  five  per  cent,  and  the  man 
of  humor  found  a  snug  seat. 

In  many  neighborhoods  the  name  is  so  frequent  that  it  is  neces- 
sary to  append  some  soubriquet  to  identify  the  person. 

"  Can  you  tell  me  where  Mr.  Smith  fives,  mister  ?"  "  Smith — 
Smith — ^what  Smith  ?  there  are  a  good  many  of  that  name 
in  these  parts — ^my  name  is  Smith."  "  Why,  I  don't  know 
his  t'other  name,  but  he's  a  sour,  crabbed  sort  of  fellow,  and 
they  call  him  '.Crab  Smith.'  "  "Oh,  the  deuce!  s'pose  I'm 
the  man." 

But  the  best  piece  of  humor  relating  to  the  name  is  the  fol- 
lowing which  we  take  firom  Lower,  which  appeared  some 
years  since  in  the  newspapers,  under  the  title  of 

"The  Smiths. 

"  Some  very  learned  disquisitions  are  just  now  going  on  in  the 
journals  touchiug  the  origin  and  extraordinary  extension  of 
the  family  of  '  the  Smiths.' 

"  Industrious  explorers  after  derivatives  and  nomiaal  roots,  they 
say,  would  find  in  the  name  of  John  Smith  a  world  of  mys- 
tery;  and  a  philologist  in  the  Providence  Journal,  after 


OF    FAMILY    NAME8.  237 

having  written  some  thirty  columns  for  the  enlightenment 
of  the  public  thereanent,  has  thrown  down  his  pen,  and  de- 
clared the  subject  exhaustless. 

"  From  what  has  hitherto  been  discovered,  it  appears  that  the 
great  and  formidable  family  of  the  Smiths  are  the  veritable 
descendants,  in  a  direct  Une,  from  Shem,  the  son  of  Noah, 
the  father  of  the  Shemitish  tribe,  or  the  tribe  of  Shem ;  and 
it  is  thus  derived — Shem,  Shemit,  Shmit,  Smith.  Another 
learned  pundit,  in  the  Philadelphia  Gazette^  contends  for  the 
universality  of  the  name  John  Smith,  not  only  in  Great  Britain 
and  America,  but  among  aU  kindred  and  nations  on  the  face 
of  the  earth.  Beginning  with  the  Hebrew,  he  says,  the  He- 
brews had  no  Christian  names,  consequently  tliey  had  no 
Johns,  and  in  Hebrew  the  name  stood  simply  Shem  or 
Shemit ;  but  in  the  other  nations  John  Smith  is  found  at 
full,  one  and  indivisible.  Thus,  Latin,  Johannes  Smithius ; 
Itahan,  Giovanni  Smithi;  Spanish,  Juan  Smithas;  Dutch, 
Hans  Schmidt ;  French,  Jean  Smeets ;  Greek,  'lov  'ZK/utrov ; 
Eussian,  Jonloff  Skmittowski ;  Pohsh,  Ivan  Schmittiwciski  ; 
Chinese,  Jahon  Shimmit;  Icelandic,  Jahne  Smithson; 
Welsh,  lihon  Schmidd ;  Tuscarora,  Ton  Qa  Snuttia ;  Mex- 
ican, JontH  F'Smitti. 

"And  then,  to  prove  the  antiquity  of  the  name,  the  same 
savant  observes,  that '  among  the  cartouches  deciphered  by 
Rossehni,  on  the  temple  of  Osiris  in  Egypt,  was  found  the 
neime  of  Pharaoh  Smithosis,  being  the  nintli  in  the  eight- 
eenth dynasty  of  Tlieban  kings.  He  was  the  founder  of  the 
celebrated  temple  of  Smithopolis  Magna.'  We  heartily  con- 
gratulate the  respectable  multitude  of  the  Smiths  on  these 
profound  researches — ^researches  which  bid  fair  to  explode 
the  generally  received  opinion  that  the  great  family  of  the 
Smiths  were  the  descendants  of  mere  horse-shoers  and 
hammer-men !" 

SNELL.     (Dutch.)     Snel,  agile,  swift  nimble. 
SNODGRASS.     Local.     Grass  trimmed  and  smooth;   short 


238  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

SNOW.     (Dutch.)    From  Snoo,  cunning,  subtle,  crafty,  sly. 

SNYDER.     (G-er.)     From  Schneider,  a  tailor. 

SOLDEN.    Local.    A  town  in  Westphalia,  Germany. 

SOMER.  Alluvial  land.  G-aelic  and  Welsh,  so  for  swl  or  sa\ 
soil,  and  mer,  a  lake,  water,  the  sea. 

SOMERVILLE.  The  village  near  a  marsh  or  lake ;  So  wer,  a 
marshy  soU,  near  water  or  the  sea.  So,  for  swl,  sal,  the 
earth,  soU,  land.  Samhradh,  GaeHc,  summer,  from  Samh, 
the  sun.  Somerset  may  have  been  so  called  because  the 
primitive  inhabitants  had  an  altar  to  the  sun,  samh,  or 
because  the  country  lay  to  the  south. 

SOMMER.  (Fr.)  From  sommer,  to  sum  or  cast  up ;  one  who 
directs  or  cormnands.     Summere,  Dan.,  to  sum  up. 

SOULll.  Local.  A  small  territory  in  France,  between  Beam 
and  the  Lower  Navarre. 

SOUTHCOTE.     The  south  cot;  so  ^os^cott  and  Wesl-coU. 

SOUTHWELL.  Local.  A  town  in  Nottinghamshire,  Eng- 
land.    The  south  well  or  plain. 

SPALDLNTG.  Local.  From  the  town  of  Spalding,  in  Lincoln- 
shire, England.  Spalding,  a  ravine,  from  the  German  spalte^ 
a  ravine. 

SPARK.    To  disperse,  to  scatter,  to  sparkle. 

SPAAREN.    Local.    A  river  in  North  Holland. 

SPELMAN.  panish.)  From  Spillemand,  a  fiddler.  SpiUe, 
to  game,  to  play. 

SPENOE.     An  abbreviation  of  Spencer. 

SPENCER.  (Nor.  Fr.)  Le  Despenser,  a  steward.  The  an- 
cestor of  the  family  assumed  the  name  Le  Despenser  (Latin, 
dispensator),  from  being  steward  to  the  household  of  Wil- 
liam the  Conqueror. 

SPICER.    A  name  of  trade,  a  grocer. 


OF    FAMILY   IfAMES.  239 

SPIEaEL.     (Dutch.)    A  looking-glass. 

SPIER.  Spere,  to  ask,  to  inquire ;  a  word  used  formerly  in 
Scotland  and  the  north  of  Ireland.  The  name  may  be  from 
^ear,  a  long-pointed  weapon  used  in  war,  and  given  for 
some  exploit  in  battle,  or  taken  from  a  sign  over  an  inn. 
"  John  at  the  Spear." 

SPINK.    A  bird,  a  finch. 

SPOOR.  (Dutch.)  A  spur ;  that  which  excites ;  a  locality,  as 
the  spur  of  a  mountain;  whatever  projects;  the  track  or 
foot-prints  of  beasts. 

SPOTTEK     (G-er.)     To  mock,  deride,  ridicule. 

SPRAGrUE.  From  Spradky  Dutch,  speech,  language, — ^figura- 
tively, eloquent. 

ST.  ALBANS.  Local  A  town  in  Hertfordshire,  England,  so 
named  from  a  Pagan  deity,  Alban,  which  name  signifies  a 
high  hill,  the  Verulam  of  the  Romans.  Offa  dedicated  a 
church  to  Alban,  the  proto-martyr  of  Britain,  in  the  time 
of  Diocletian. 

STAATS.  Stoats  is  the  nick-name  in  Dutch  for  Eustace,  or 
Eustatius,  which  is  derived  from  the  Greek  ev,  and  iarrifiif 
well-established,  firm,  unyielding. 

STACY.  A  seeming  form  of  the  Latm  Statins,  from  Sto,  to 
stand,  stationed,  standing  still,  fixed. 

STAINES.  An  old  word  for  stones ;  a  market  town  in  Mid- 
dlesex, England. 

STAIR.  Local.  (Gaelic.)  Stepping  stones  in  a  river ;  a  path 
made  over  a  bog. 

STAIRN".  (Gaelic.)  Din,  noise.  Stym,  Saxon,  stubborn,  se- 
vere. 

STALKER.  A  fowler  who  goes  warily  and  softly  in  pursuit 
of  his  game ;  one  who  walks  on  stilts  over  ditches  in  pursuit 
of  moor-fowl. 


240  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIOJffART 

"  The  fowler  is  employed  his  limed  twigs  to  set, 
One  underneath  his  horse  to  get  a  shoot  doth  stalk, 
Another  over  dykes  upon  his  stilts  doth  walk," — ^Deayton. 

STANHOPE.  Local.  From  the  town  of  Stanhope,  in  the 
bishopric  of  Durham,  England.  From  stan^  stone,  and  hope, 
the  side  of  a  hill,  or  low  ground  amid  hills. 

STANLEY.  Local.  A  market-town  in  Gloucestershire,  Eng- 
land. The  place  of  a  tin  mine,  start,  tin,  Welsh,  ysfaen,  and 
fey  /  or  from  the  Saxon,  stan,  a  stone,  and  ley — the  stony 
place. 

,  STANTOK    From  stan,  a  stone,  and  ton,  a  hill  or  town. 

STANWOOD.  (Saxon.)  From  stan,  a  stone,"  and  wood — ^the 
stony  wood. 

STAPLETOK  (Saxon.)  From  stapel,  stapol,  stapula,  a  staple, 
fastening,  stake,  and  ton, — a  town  inclosed  or  fenced  round 
with  stakes. 

STARK  Anglo  Saxon,  Stare,  Grerman  Starch,  strong,  firm, 
confirmed  to  the  utmost  degree. 

STARKE Y.    Strong  of  body,  fi-om  Siarh. 

STARR.     (Ger.)    Stifi",  rigid,  inflexible. 

STEAD.  A  place  enclosed,  a  station  or  standing  place.  Siad, 
and  stede,  in  Dutch,  signifies  a  town. 

STBAISrE  or  STEEN.     (Danish  and  Dutch.)    A  stone. 

STEARNS  or  STERN.  Severe  in  look,  harsh,  bold.  Stierne, 
Danish,  a  star. 

STEBBINS  or  STUBBINS.  Local  From  a  town  of  the 
same  name  called  Stebbings,  originally  Stubing,  in  Essex, 
England.  So  called  from  stub,  Saxon,  styobe,  Latin  stipes^ 
the  stump  of  a  tree,  and  ing,  a  field  or  meadow. 

STEELE.  A  name  given,  in  all  probability,  to  a  person  who 
was  inflexible,  hard,  firm,  or  enduring. 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  .  241 

STEIN.  Local.  A  town  in  the  isle  of  Sky,  Scotland.  Stein^ 
German  and  Danish,  a  stone. 

STELL.     (Grer.)     A  place,  station,  office. 

STEMME.  (Dan.)  Voice,  vote,  suffrage;  also  to  tune,  to 
agree,  to  accord. 

STENNETT.     (Dan.)     Local     From  stenet,  stony,  rocky. 

STJETSON.     Stedson,  in  Danish,  is  a  stepson. 

STEVENS.     From  Stephen,  from  the  Greek  'ZTi(l>uvo^,  a  crown« 

STEWAKT.  Walter,  the  son  of  Fleance,  and  grand-son  of 
Banquo,  was  created,  by  Malcom  III.  Lord  High  Steward 
of  Scotland,  from  which  office  his  family  afterward  took  and 
retained  the  name  of  Stewart,  and  from  them  descended  the 
royal  family  of  Stuart. 

STILL.  Quiet,  calm,  silent.  A  vessel  used  in  the  distillation 
of  Hquors.     "  John  at  the  StiUJ' 

STIMANDS.     (Dan.)     From  StiTnand,  a  robber,  highwayman. 

STIELING.  Local.  From  the  city  of  Stirling,  the  Gaehc 
name  of  which  is  Strila,  by  some  supposed  to  signify  "the 
place  of  strife,"  from  Stri-thraUa. 

A  Mr.  StirUng,  who  was  minister  of  the  barony  church  of  Glas- 
gow, during  the  war  maintained  against  the  insatiable  am- 
bition of  Louis  XIV.,  in  that  part  of  his  prayer  wliich  re- 
lated to  pubHc  affairs,  used  to  beseech  the  Lord  that  he 
would  take  the  haughty  tyrant  of  France,  and  shake  him 
over  the  mouth  of  hell ,  "  but  good  Lord,^'  added  the  worthy 
man,  "  dinna  let  him  fa'  in.''  This  curious  prayer  having 
been  mentioned  to  Louis,  he  laughed  heartily  at  this  new 
and  ingenious  method  of  punishing  ambition,  and  frequently 
afterward  gave  as  a  toast,  "  The  good  Scotch  parson." 

STOCKER.  One  who  stocks,  stores,  or  supphes.  Stalker,  one 
who  stalks,  a  fowler  who  goes  warily  and  softly  in  pursuit 
of  his  game. 

11 


242  .  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

STOCKING".  Local  From  Stoc^  Saxon,  a  place,  and  ing,  low 
land,  a  meadow. 

STOCKTON.  Local.  A  town  in  Durham,  on  the  Tees,  Eng- 
land, from  stohej  a  place,  a  settlement,  and  ton,  a  town. 

STODDARD.  Concerning  the  origin  of  this  name  there  is 
a  tradition,  that  the  first  of  the  family  came  over  with 
William  the  Conqueror,  as  standard-bearer  to  Viscompte  De 
Pulesdon,  a  noble  Norman,  and  that  the  name  is  deriied 
from  the  office  of  a  standard-bearer,  and  was  anciently  writ- 
ten De  La  Sicmdeprd,  corrupted  to  Stodard  or  JStodart 

STOKES.  Local.  A  parish  in  Buckinghamshire ;  also,  towns 
in  Suffialk  and  Gloucestershire,  England.  The  name  signifies 
a  place,  a  settlement.     Sfuge,  Danish^  a  ravine. 

STOKESBY  or  STUKEBY.  Local.  Stugehy,  the  viUage  in 
tlie  ravine. 

STONE.  Local.  A  town  in  England.  The  name  was  proba- 
bly given  to  an  individual  who  resided  near  or  by  some  re- 
markable stone,  or  at  a  place  called  Stone.  "  Will  at  the 
Stone." 

STORE.     (Dan.)     From  sforre,  greater,  larger,  stout,  strong. 

STOUGHTON.  Local.  This  family  derive  its  name  frona 
Boche  or  Stoke^  a  place  in  Surrey,  England,  and  tun,  a  word 
signifying  an  inclosure. 

STOVER.  (Dan.)  A  flteet  hound,  a  name  given  for  swiftness 
or  love  of  hunting. ' 

STOWE.     A  fixed  place  or  mansion^  a  town,  a  garrison. 

STRACHAN.  (GaeHc.)  Local.  From  the  parish  of  Strachaa 
in  Kincardmeshire,  Scotland,  formerly  Stratham.  The- 
name  may  come  fi-om  stra  or  strath,  a  vale,  from  the  root 
strath,  a  valley,  through  which  a  river  runs,  and  chan  or- 
ceann,  the-  head,,  meaning  "  the  head  of  the  valley,"  or  "  a 
httle  valley,"  from  Strathan, 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  243 

STKAIN.  Local.  A  town  in  the  north  of  Scotland,  written 
Strang.  It  may  be  a  contraction  of  Strachan,  a  little  strath 
or  valley. 

STRATTON,  STRETTOK  (Cor.  Br.)  Local.  The  hiU  fuU 
of  fresh  springs. 

STRICKLAND.  This  name  came  from  Strick-land  or  Stirk- 
Ixmd^  that  is,  "  the  pasture  ground  of  young  cattle,"  called 
stirks  or  steers^  in  the  parish  of  Moreland,  Westmoreland  Co., 
England,  where  the  family  once  had  considerable  posses- 
sions. 

STRINGER.  One  who  made  or  fitted  the  strings  to  the  bows 
in  the  time  of  archery. 

"In  war  if  a  string  break,  the  man  is  lost  and  is  no  man,  and 
his  weapon  is  gone,  and  although  he  have  two  strings  put  on 
at  once,  yet  he  shall  have  small  leisure  and  less  room  to  bend 
his  bow,  therefore,  God  send  us  good  stringers  both  for  war 
and  peace." — Ascham. 

STRYKBR.  (Dan.)  From  strige,  to  strike,  to  roam,  to  travel, 
hence  a  worker  at  a  trade,  a  traveler. 

STUKLEY  or  STUKLY.  (Gaelic.)  Local.  From  stuc,  a  Ut- 
tle  hill  jutting  out  from  a  greater,  a  cliff,  and  %,  a  place. 
Stugley,  Danish,  a  ravine,  a  place  near  a  cKff. 

STYLES.  A  very  common  name  "  At  the  Style" — John  Atte 
Style — John  Styles.     (See  Noakes.) 

SULLIVAN.  (Celtic.)  From  suil,  eye,  and  ban,  fair — the 
fair-eyed. 

SULLY.  (Fr.)  Local.  From  the  town  of  Sully,  m  the  prov- 
ince of  Orleans,  France. 

SULT.     (Gaehc.)     Suilt  or  Sult^  comeliness,  beauty,  fat. 

SUMMER.  So  called,  probably,  from  the  season  summer.  The 
word  is  derived  from  the  Saxon  Sumer ;  Celtic  or  Gaelic, 
samh,  the  sun.  Summer^  one  who  casts  up  an  account 
The  name  may  be  a  corruption  of  Sitmner. 


244  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

SUMNER,  SOMKER,  SOMPNOURE.  One  whose  duty  con- 
sisted in  citing  delinquents  to  the  ecclesiastical  courts ;  an 
apparitor ;  Hterally,  a  summoner. 

"  Sim  Somnor,  in  hast,  wend  thou  thi  way, 
Byd  Joseph  and  his  wyfif,  be  name, 
At  the  coort  to  apper  this  day, 
Hem  to  pourge  of  her  defame." 

CoYENTEY  Mysteries. 

Chaucer  gives  us  a  description  of  the  Sompnour  in  his  Canter- 
bury Tales. 

SUMPTER.  A  teamster  or  groom  who  drives  beasts  of  bur- 
den. A  "  sumpter-horse,"  a  horse  which  carries  necessaries 
for  a  journey. 

SUNDERLAND.  Local  A  seaport  town  in  the  county  of 
Durham,  England.     Land  separated,  divided,  parted. 

SURTEES.  Local.  From  Sur-Tees,  that  is,  on  the  river  Tees 
or  Tay,  in  the  county  of  Durham,  England,  where  the  first 
of  the  family  settled. 

SUTPHEN.  (Dutch.)  Originally  Yan  Zutphen,  that  is,  fi:om 
the  city  of  Zutphen,  in  G-ermany. 

SWARTWOUT.  (Dutch.)  The  same  as  the  EngHsh  Black- 
wood,  from  Zwart,  black,  and  woud,  a  wood. 

SUTER,  SUTTER,  and  SHUTER.  A  shoemaker,  one  who 
sews  or  stitches. 

SUTTON.  Local  A  town  in  Devonshire,  England— the 
south  town. 

SWAIM.     Local    From  Schwavm,  a  town  in  Lower  Bavaria. 

SWANE.  (Dan.)  A  swan.  Swain,  a  youth,  a  servant,  a 
herdsman. 

SWEET.     Swede,  a  native  of  Sweden.    Sunt,  of  Switzerland. 


OF   FAMILY    NAMES.  245 

SWETTENHAM.  A  name  of  place,  from  sweeie,  pleasant  or 
agreeable,  and  ham,  a  village. 

SWEYNB  Gaelic,  Sean;  Cornish,  Swoen ;  Welsh,  Swyn^  a 
charm. 

SWIFT.  Local.  A  name  given  for  swiftness  in  moving.  It 
may  be  local,  from  Swift,  a  river  of  England. 

SWINBURN.  Local.  Sweyne's  hum  or  boundary,  from  hourn, 
a  boundary. 

SWITS.    A  native  of  Switzerland,  so  called  in  Holland. 

SWITZER.    A  Swiss,  a  native  of  Switzerland. 

SYLVESTER.  Belonging  to  the  forest,  a  woodman,  from 
Sylva,  Latin,  a  wood. 

SYMES.  Supposed  to  be  a  variation  of  Sims,  from  Simon  or 
Simeon. 

SYMINGrTOK  Local.  From  a  parish  by  that  name  in  the 
north-west  of  Kyle,  Ayrshire,  Scotland ;  originally  Sym/ms- 
town,  so  called  from  Simon  Lockard  or  Lockart,  who  held 
the  lands  under  Walter,  the  first  Stewart. 


TABOR.  Local  Tabur  or  Tobar,  Gaelic,  a  spring-well,  water, 
a  river.  Tabor,  a  city  in  Bohemia,  which  the  Hussites  for- 
tified and  made  the  seat  of  their  war  for  twenty  years ;  on 
this  account  they  were  caUed  Taborites.  The  family  may 
probably  derive  their  name  from  this  city. 

TAGOART.  Tycwrdd,  Welsh,  a  meeting-house.  Tagair, 
Gaelic,  to  plead  a  cause,  claim  as  a  right,  to  reason,  to 
debate. 

TAITE  or  TATE.  (Gaehc.)  Pleasure,  dehght.  Tate,  learned. 
Tad,  in  Welsh,  is  a  father,  and  Taid,  a  grandfather. 

TALBOT.     Amastifil 


246  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

TAPPAN.  (Welsh.)  Local.  The  top  of  the  hanging  rock, 
from  %?,  a  hanging  rock,  and  perij  top  or  head. 

TASKER.    A  thrasher. 

TATTBRSALL.  Local.  From  the  town  of  Tattersall,  in  Lin- 
colnshire, England. 

TAYLOR.  A  name  of  trade.  We  find  this  name  modified  to 
T&jleure,  the  orthography  having  been  changed  by  the 
bearers  to  hide  what  they  thought  the  lowness  of  its  origin. 
So  Smith  is  changed  to  Smyth,  Turner  to  Tumour,  etc. — 
as  Camden  says,  ''Mollified  ridiculously  lest  their  bearers 
should  seem  vilhfied  by  them." 

A  Mr.  Taylor,  who,  from  this  false  pride,  had  changed  his  name 
to  Tajleure,  once  haughtUy  demanding  of  a  farmer  the  name 
of  his  dog,  the  man  replied,  "  Why,  sir,  his  proper  name  is 
Jowler,  but  since  he's  a  consequential  kind  of  puppy,  we 
calls  him  JouJeure  /" 

TEDDIXaTOK  Local.  A  place  on  the  Thames,  so  caUed 
from  the  tide  ending  there,  before  the  building  of  London 
bridge — "  tide-ending  town,"  corrupted  to  Teddington. 

TEFFT  or  TEFT.  Local  A  piece  of  ground  where  there  has 
been  a  house. 

TELFAIR.  (Italian.)  Tagliaferro,  pronounced  ToUifer.  Fr., 
tailler,  to  "cut,  and  fer,  iron.  It  is  said  that  the  first  of  the 
name  was  so  called  from  having  cut  a  bar  of  iron  in  two 
with  his  sword.     A  smith. 

TELFORD.  Local.  The  narrow  or  straightened  pass  or  way, 
from  the  Welsh  tel,  tight,  and  ford,  a  way.  Anglo-Saxon, 
Tillford,  at  the  ford  or  shallow  place  in  a  river.  "  At-iil- 
ford,"  corrupted  to  Tilford. 

TEMES.  Local.  Thamesis,  the  Thames,  so  called  from  the 
meeting  together  of  the  rivers  Ihrne  and  Ms,  the  chief  river 
of  Britain. 


OF    FAMILY   NAMES.  247 

TEMPLE.  From  the  manor  of  Temple,  in  Wellesborough, 
Leicestershire,  which  name  was  given  by  the  old  Earl  of 
Leicester,  one  of  the  Knights  Templars,  who  usually  gave 
the  name  of  Temple  to  their  lands. 

TENBROOK.  (Dutch.)  nn,  at,  and  broele,  a  brook,  a  stream, 
or  marsh — the  house  or  place  at  the  brook. 

TENEYCK.     (Dutch.)     Ten  oaks,  or  at  the  oaks. 

TENNANT.  Tenant,  a  person  holding  lands  under  another, 
from  Teneo,  Latin,  to  hold  Local,  H^n,  Welsh,  a  stretch, 
and  nant,  a  ravine. 

TENNISON  and  TENNYSON".  From  Tenesone,  a  place  in 
Gottespunt  or  Cazdee,  in  Switzerland.  If  the  name  be  not 
local,  it  is  probably  a  corruption  of  Dennison. 

TERRIL,  TIEREL.     Local.     The  Httle  tower. 

TERWILLIGER.  Dutch,  "X>er  Willikeur;'  a  by-law,  a  stat- 
ute. "  Der  wiUige-waar,^'  serviceable  ware,  or  ware  that 
sells  well 

TEW.     (Welsh.)     Fat,  a  corpulent  person. 

THEOBALD.  God's  power ;  but  in  the  Saxon  ITieohaM  signi- 
fies powerful  or  bold  over  the  people.  In  the  Saxon  Psalter 
theod  is  the  same  as  gentes,  and  the  English  nation  is  often 
caUed  Engla-Theod.     See  Tibbits. 

THOMAS.     (Heb.)     A  twin. 

THOMLIN,  and  THOMLINSOK  From  Thom  or  Thomas, 
and  ing  or  ling,  a  child  or  descendant — the  son  of  Thomas. 

THOMS.  An  abbreviation  of  Thomas ;  Tom,  local,  Gaelic  and 
Welsh,  a  round  hiUock  or  knoll,  a  rising  ground,  an  emi- 
nence, any  round  heap,  a  tumulus. 

THOMSON.    The  son  of  Thomas. 

THORN.  Local  A  town  in  England ;  a  tree  or  bush  armed 
with  spines  or  sharp  shoots.     "  Will  at  the  Thom." 


248  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

THORPE.    A  village.    Dutch,  Dorp. 
THRASHER.     One  who  thrashes  grain. 

THROCKMORTON.  A  corruption  of  At  Roch-moor-town,  "  -^ 
town  on  a  rock  in  a  moor,"  in  the  vale  of  Evesham,  Flad- 
bury,  Warwickshire,  England,  whence  the  name  was  de- 
rived. 

THURSTON.  Local.  The  hill  or  town  where  the  Saxon  god 
Thor  was  worshiped  by  the  Anglo-Saxons. 

THWAITE  and  THWAYTES.  Local.  A  piece  of  ground 
cleared  of  wood,  from  the  Anglo-Saxon  thweotan,  to  cut. 
In  some  places  in  England  the  word  signifies  a  rivulet; 
marshy  ground ;  also,  a  meadow. 

TIBBITS.  Has  the  same  signification  as  Theobald,  of  which  it 
is  a  corruption.  Theobald  is  in  the  French  fheohaud,  pro- 
nounced Tibbo,  whence  Tibhauds  or  Tibbitts.  Theobald  is 
derived  by  Camden  fi:om  Theod,  the  people,  and  bald,  brave 
or  bold,  that  is,  powerful  or  bold  over  the  people.  B.  Rhe- 
nanus  derives  it  from  Theos,  G-od,  and  bald — God's  power. 

TICE.     (Dutch.)     A  familiar  abbreviation  of  Matthias. 

TICH!BOURNE.  Anciently  At  lichen-bourne,  that  is,  a  person 
settled  at  the  head  of  a  fountain  of  the  river  Itchen.  The 
river  Itchen  is  in  Southampton  county,  England.  At  the 
head  of  the  river,  near  Alresford,  the  first  ancestor  of  this 
family  resided,  long  before  the  Conquest. 

TICHENOR.    Local.     Probably  a  corruption  of  At  Itchenor, 

'T Itchenor,  from  the  river  Itchen;  the  name  of  a  village  in 

Sussex,  England. 
TIERNAY.     (Gaelic.)     Tighearna,  a  lord,  a  judge,  a  landed 

proprietor.     (See  Tournay.) 
TIFFANY.    A  maker  or  vender  of  silk.     Tiffany  was  a  sort 

of  light  silk  used  by  painters  to  trace  the  outHnes  of  a  picture 

through. 
TILMAN.     One  who  works  a  farm. 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  249 

TILL.    Local.     The  name  of  a  river  in  England. 

TILLING-HAST.     Local.     A  place  where  auctions  are  held ; 

buying,  selling,  dividing,  paying  over.      German,  theilen; 

Dutch,  deelen,  to  separate,  divide,  pay  over.     A  dealing 

house. 
TILLY.    Local.    A  town  of  France. 
TILMONT.    Local.     A  town  in  Brabant,  Netherlands. 

TILTON.  Local.  Derived  from  TUton,  a  village  in  England, 
probably  an  ancient  place  of  tilting,  or  tents.  TiU,  Saxon, 
a  tent. 

TINGr.  Local.  Among  the  ancient  Graels  or  Celts  the  place 
where  courts  were  held,  and  justice  administered,  was  called 
^ng,  i  e.,  to  surround;  the  circle,  the  temple,  or  round 
hill.  The  Tings  at  first  were  only  judicial,  but,  in  process 
of  time  they  became  legislative.  The  most  remarkable  ob- 
ject of  this  kind  is  tlie  Tynwald,  in  the  Isle  of  Man.  Thing, 
Saxon,  a  cause,  meeting,  a  council;  German,  ding,  a  court. 
Dutch,  Dinger,  a  pleader. 

TEESDALE.  Local.  The  dale  on  the  Tees,  a  river  of  Eng- 
land, that  separates  the  counties  of  Durham  and  York,  and 
enters  the  German  ocean  below  Stockton. 

TOBY.     The  Welsh  for  Thomas. 

TODD.     Tod,  a  Scotch  word  for  a  fox. 

TOLLMACHE.     (Nor.  Fr.)     Tolling  of  the  beU. 

TOLMAN.  A  collector  of  toU.  In  Dutch,  Taalman  is  an  in- 
terpreter, from  Taal,  language,  tongue.  "  Constantine  Tol- 
maen,^'  in  Cornwall,  is  an  ancient  place  of  Druid  worship. 
Tolmaen  is  usually  applied  to  a  stone  that  is  perforated, 
from  tol,  a  hole,  and  maen,  a  stone ;  twll  mwn,  Welsh,  a 
mine,  shaft,  or  pit. 

TORE.Y.  Local,  Torr,  Gaelic,  a  conical  hill  or  mountain,  a 
mound,  a  grave,  a  tower ;  piled  up,  formed  into  heaps ;  to 
heap  up,  to  bury. 

11* 


260  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

TOUCEY.  Local.  From  the  town  of  Toucey  in  the  province 
of  Champagne,  France. 

TOURNA Y.  Local.  From  Tournay,  a  town  in  Artois,  France, 
and  may  signify  the  tower  or  castle  near  the  water.  Ihrna, 
in  G-aelic,  written  Tighearna,  means  a  landlord,  a  lord,  or 
judge,  and  was  applied  to  all  great  men,  and  is  derived,  ac- 
cording to  Dr.  MacPherson,  from  te  or  ti,  an  old  word  for 
one,  and  even,  land,  as  implying  a  landed  gentleman;  I 
think  the  root  of  the  name  is  Tir,  land,  and  earr  or  earran,  a 
division,  share,  or  portion. 

TOWERS,  Peels,  and  Castles,  were  places  of  defense.  Tower 
is  derived  from  tor,  G-aelic  and  Saxon,  French  tour,  Welsh, 
twr,  a  heap  or  pile,  applied  to  conical  hills,  and  to  round 
buildings  erected  for  strength  or  security. 

TOWNER.     A  dweUer  in  a  town. 

TOWNSEND.    Local.    One  who  Uved  at  the  end  of  the  town. 

TRACY  or  TRACEY.  Local.  A  viUage  in  the  Department 
of  Oise,  France.  E.  Tracy  came  with  William  the  Con- 
queror into  England.  Sir  WiUiam  Tracy  was  most  active 
among  the  four  knights  that  killed  Thomas  a  Becket,  on 
which  account  tradition  reports,  it  is  imposed  on  the  Tracys 
for  miraculous  penance,  that  whether  they  go  by  land  or 
water,  the  wind  is  always  in  their  faces,  hence  an  old  say- 
ing, 

"The  Tracys  have  always  the  wind  in  their  faces." 

"  If  this  were  so,"  says  Dr.  Fuller,  "  it  were  a  favor  in  a  hot 
summer  to  the  females  of  that  family,  and  would  spare  them 
the  use  of  a  fan."  The  word  may  signify  a  rampart,  a  ter- 
race. 

TRAILLE.     (Graelic.)     A  servant,  sloven,  slave. 

TRAIN.     (GaeHc.)     Treun,  brave,  vaUant,  bold. 

TRAINEUR.     (Fr.)     A  straggler. 


Oi'    FAMILY    NAMES.  261 

TRELAWNEY.  Local  (Cor.  Br.)  The  open  town  near  the 
water;  from  Tre,  a  town,  luwn^  open,  and  ey,  water. 

TREMAINE.  Local  (Cor.  Br.)  The  town  on  the  shore  or 
sea-coast,  from  Tre^  a  town,  and  mayne — ^the  stone  town, 
the  river  or  passage  town. 

TRENOR,  TRAINOR,  TRAINER,  (aaehc.)  Treunmhor, 
very  brave ;  Treun,  Gaelic,  brave,  valiant ;  er  or  or,  the  ter- 
mination of  fear,  a  man. 

TREVELYAN.  Local  (Cor.  Br.)  Trevellyan,  the  town  of 
the  mill.     Welsh,  Tremelin,  or  Frevelin. 

TREVOR.    Local     (Cor.  Br.)     From  Trevear,  the  great  town. 

TRIPP.  According  to  tradition,  this  name  was  given  to  Lord 
Howard's  fifth  son,  at  the  siege  of  Boulogne.  King  Henry 
V.  being  there,  asked  how  they  took  the  town  and  castle. 
Howard  answered,  "  /  tripped  up  the  walhy  Saith  his  ma- 
jesty, "  Tripp  shall  be  thy  name,  and  no  longer  Howard," 
and  honored  him  with  a  scaling-ladder  for  his  coat  of  arms. 

This  tradition,  as  well  as  many  others  I  have  given,  is  not  very 
probable,  but  I  give  them  insertion  because  they  are  curious 
and  amusing,  and  some  of  them  may  be  founded  on  actual 
occurrences. 

TROTTER.  (Ft.)  Trotteur,  a  person  always  on  the  trot;  a 
rambler. 

TROUBLEFIELD.  Local  A  corruption  of  the  Norman 
name  Tuberville. 

TROWBRIDOE.  Local  A  town  in  England.  The  name 
signifies  "  through  the  bridge ;"  perhaps  given  for  some  feat 
of  daring,  or  bodily  courage. 

TRUAX.  (Cor.  Br.)  The  place  on  the  waters,  from  Tre,  a 
town,  and  aux,  waters ;  or,  if  from  the  French,  "  the  three 
waters.^' 

TRUE.  Local  From  Trieu,  a  river  in  Bretagne,  France.  Tre 
signifies  a  town. 


262  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

TRULAN.     (G-aelic.)     TruaiUean,  a  pitiful  person,  a  sneak. 

TRULL,  A  slutj  a  vUe  wench,  a  strumpet ;  a  name  derived 
from  the  mother. 

TUDOR.  The  Welsh  for  Theodore,  or  in  old  English,  pious,  as 
Tudor  Belin,  the  pious  king. 

TUPMAN.  A  breeder  of  rams,  which  are  called,  in  some 
places  in  England,  Tups. 

TUPPER.  According  to  the  celebrated  poet  by  this  name, 
Martin  Farquhar  Tupper,  it  is  a  corruption  of  part  of  the 
motto  of  the  family,  "  Tout  perdie." 

TURCOTTE.     (Welsh.)     Turcwt,  a  craggy,  abrupt  pinnacle,  or 
,   tower,  from  Tur,  a  tower,  and  cwt,  abrupt,  cut  off,  implying 
defense.     Tor,  or   Tur,  a  Saxon  deity,  and  cot,  a  house, 
Thorcot. 

TURNBULL.  This  name  had  its  origin  in  some  feat  of  per- 
sonal strength  or  courage.  There  is  the  following  tradition 
of  its  origin :  A  strong  man  of  the  name  of  Ru^l,  having 
turned  a  wild  bull  by  the  head,  which  violently  ran  against 
King  Robert  Bruce  in  Stirling  Park,  received  from  the  king 
the  lands  of  Bedrule,  and  the  name  of  TurnbuU. 

TURNOUR.  There  is  a  tradition  that  this  family  derive  their 
name  from  their  ancient  place  of  settlement  in  Normandy, 
which  being  a  black  castle,  was  called  Le  tour  noir,  whence 
the  lords  thereof  were  called  Les  Sires  de  Tournoir,  and  by 
contraction  Tournor.  One  of  the  family  went  with  William 
the  Conqueror  into  England.  It  is  probably  the  same  as 
Turner,  a  name  of  trade,  tlie  orthography  being  changed. 

TURTON.  From  Turton,  in  the  hundred  of  Shelfold,  in  Lan- 
cashire, probably  so  called  from  Saxon,  Tur  or  Tor,  a  tower, 
or  Thur,  or  Tlior,  one  of  the  Saxon  deities.,  and  ton — either 
a  town  having  a  tower,  or  sacred  to  Thor. 

TUTHILL  or  TUTTLE.  Local.  A  town  in  Caernarvon, 
Wales,  near  the  coast. 


OF    FAMILY   NAMES.  253 

TWICKENHAM.  Local.  A  village  of  Middlesex,  England. 
Tweywicken,  the  "  two  imcheins,^'  or  wares  on  the  river,  and 
ham,  a  village. 

TWEN'Gr.  (Danish.)  From  Twinge,  to  force,  master,  subdue ; 
or  a  name  perhaps  given  from  his  dexterity  in  archery.  At 
Wing,  may  be  abbreviated  to  Twing. 

TWOPENNY.  From  the  Flemish  Fupigny,  from  Tup,  a  ram, 
and  ign  or  ine,  quality,  disposition,  the  same  as  igniis,  in 
Latin. 

TYNG.     (See  Ting.) 

TYNTE.  Tradition  gives  the  following  derivation:  In  the 
year  1192,  at  the  celebrated  battle  of  Ascalon,  a  young 
knight  of  the  noble  house  of  Arundel,  clad  all  in  white,  with 
his  horse's  housing  of  the  same  color,  so  gallantly  distin- 
guished himself  on  the  field,  that  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion  re- 
marked pubUcly  after  the  victory,  that  the  maiden  knight 
had  borne  himself  a  lion,  and  done  deeds  equal  to  those  of 
six  croises  (or  crusaders).  Whereupon  he  conferred  upon 
him  for  arms,  a  lion  on  a  field,  between  six  crosslets,  and 
for  his  motto, 

^^Tinctus  crurore  Saraceno."     "Stained  with  Saracen  blood." 

Whence  his  descendants  assumed  the  name  of  Tynte,  and 
settled  in  Somersetshire,  England. 

TYSON.  The  son  of  Tys,  an  abbreviation,  among  the  Dutch, 
of  Matthias. 

UDINE.    Local.     A  town  in  the  north-east  of  Italy. 

UHLAN  or  ULINE.  May  come  fi:om  UUn  or  Ulms,  a  place 
now  called  Flensburgh,  in  Denmark ;  a  name  given  from 
the  sound  made  by  the  ebbing  and  flowing  of  the  sea. 

IJLMAN.     (Ger.).  AU  man. 

ULMER.  Allmer,  aU  famous,  renowned.  Ollmor,  Welsh,  the 
whole  sea. 


254  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

UNDERHILL.    Local.     Under  the  hilL 

UNDERWOOD.    Local.    Under  the  wood. 

UNWIK     (Dan.)     Invincible. 

UPHAM.    Local     The  house  or  town  on  a  height. 

UPTON.    Local     The  high  hill,  or  the  town  on  the  height 

URRAN.  (Cor.  Br.)  From  urrian,  the  border,  boundary,  or 
Umit  of  a  country. 

USHER.  An  officer  of  a  court  who  introduces  strangers ;  the 
under-master  of  a  school 

USTIOK.     Studious,  affectionate,  learned. 

VACHER.     (Pr.)    A  cow-herd ;  a  keeper  of  cows. 

VALE.    Local    Low  land  between  hills,  a  valley. 

VALENTINE.  From  the  Latin  Valeniinus^  a  name  derived 
from  valens,  able,  puissant,  brave. 

VALK.     (Dutch.)     A  hawk,  a  falcon. 

VAN  ALSTYNE.  Local  From  the  old  or  high  stone, 
Dutch. 

VAN  AMEE,  VAN  NAMEN,  and  VAN  NAME.  Local 
From  the  city  of  Namen  or  Namur,  in  the  Netherlands. 

VAN  ANTWERP.  (Dutch.)  Local  From  the  city  of  Ant- 
werp, which  signifies  the  wharfs  or  the  place  of  wTiarfing^ 
casting  anchor,  or  tying  up  the  ships. 

VAN  ARDEN,  VAN  AERDEN,  and  VAN  ORDEN.  Local 
From  Aerden,  a  town  in  Holland. 

VAN  ARNHEM,  VAN  ARNUM,  VAN  ORNUM.  Local 
From  Arnheim,  a  city  in  G-uilderland,  Holland. 

VAN  BUREN.  (Dutch.)  Local  From  the  town  of  Buren, 
in  Holland. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  255 

VATT  BUSKIRK.  From  the  church  in  the  wood,  from  Bos,  a 
wood,  and  kerk,  a  chm-ch. 

VAN  CLEVE  or  VAN  KLEEP.  From  the  city  of  Cleve  or 
Cleves,  in  Westphalia,  Germany. 

VAN  CORTLANDT.  (Dutch.)  From  the  short  land;  kort, 
short,  and  landt,  land. 

VAN  CUREN  or  VAN  KEUREN.  (Dutch.)  Local.  From 
the  territory  of  an  elector  in  Germany.  Keur,  German,  an 
elector. 

VAN  DAM.  Local.  From  the  town  of  JDam,  in  Holland, 
which  signifies  a  mole  or  bank  to  prevent  inundations,  and 
where  towns  were  frequently  built,  as  Amsterdam  (Am- 
stel-dam),  Rotterdam. 

VANDENBURGH.     (Dutch.)     From  the  hiU. 

VANDENHOFF.  (Dutch.)  From  the  garden ;  hof  also  sig- 
nifies a  court  as  well  as  a  garden,  so  that  it  may  be,  firom  the 
court. 

VANDERBILT.  (Dutch.)  Byl,  in  Dutch,  signifies  a  hatchet 
or  bill.  Byltye,  a  little  hatchet  or  bill.  Die  Byltye  was  a 
nickname  given  to  ship-carpenters  at  Amsterdam,  hence 
Van  de  Bylt. 

VANDERBOGART.     (Dutch.)     From  the  orchard. 

VANDERHEYDEK  So  named  from  Heyden,  an  ancient 
town  in  Holstein,  Denmark. 

VANDERLINDEN.  Corrupted  to  Van  O  Linda— fi:om  the 
linden-trees  or  grove  of  linden. 

VANDERLIPPE.  Local.  From  the  town  of  Lippe,  in  Ger- 
many. 

VANDERMARK.  (Dutch.)  From  the  Mark.  Mark  was 
the  denomination  of  a  kind  of  county  which  made  the 
bound  or  limit  of  a  country  —  like  the  British  marches. 
Hence  mark-graaf,  marquis,  the  keeper  of  the  marks  or 
marches. 


256  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

YANDERPOEL.    From  the  marsh  or  lake. 

VANDERSPEIG-LE.  (Dutch.)  From  the  looking-glass ;  fig- 
uratively, neat,  fine,  spruce. 

VANDERVEER.  (Dutch.)  From  the  ferry ;  Veer  signifying 
a  ferry.  Veere,  or  Ter  Veere^  is  the  name  of  a  town  in  Hol- 
land, whence  probably  the  name  originated. 

YANDERWERKEK  (Dutch.)  From  the  workers  ;  werhm, 
plural  of  werJe ;  werher,  a  worker. 

YANDERZEE.  (Dutch.)  From  the  sea;  a  child  being  bom 
at  sea  during  a  violent  storm,  his  parents  gave  him  the  name 
of  Storm  Vanderzee. 

YAN  DOUSEN  and  YAN  DUZEK  (Dutch.)  From  the 
town  of  JDoesen,  in  Lower  Saxony. 

YAN"  DYCK.  (Dutch.)  From  the  dyke ;  a  bank  or  mound 
thrown  up  to  prevent  inundations  from  the  river  or  sea. 

YAN  EPS.    Local.     From  the  town  of  Eep,  in  Holland. 

YAN  HOOYEN.     Local.     From  Hoeven,  a  town  in  Holland. 

YAN  HORN  and  YAN  HOORK    Local.     From  the  town  of 

Horn  or  Hoorn,  in  Holland. 
YAN  HUISEN,  YAN  HOOSEN,  and  YAN  HUSEN.    Local. 

From  Huizen,  a  town  on  the  Zuyder  Zee,  in  HoUand. 

YAN  INGEN.    Local    From  Ingen,  a  town  in  Holland,  near 

the  river  Lech. 
YAN  LOON.     Local     From  Loon,  a  town  on  the  river  Maes, 

in  Holland. 
YAN  NESS.     Local.      Naze,   a   cape   or  promontory.     Yan 

Naze  or  Yan  Ness,  from  the  Cape. 

YAN  NORDEN.     Local.     From  Naarden,  a  town  in  Holland. 

YAN  NOSTRAND.     Properly  Vayi  Ostrand  (which  see). 

YAN  OSTRAND.  From  the  east  shore ;  oost,  east,  and  strand, 
shore  or  coast. 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  257 

VAN  PATTEN".    Local.     From  Putten,  a  town  in  Holland. 

VAN  RENSSELAER.  Local.  Van  rand  Soleure,  i.  e.,  from 
the  border  of  Soleure,  a  canton  of  Switzerland ;  Yan^  from, 
rand^  border,  margin. 

VAN  STANTVOORDT.    Local.    From  Zandvoort,  a  town  in 

North  Holland. 
VAN  SCHAACK,  VAN  SCHAIOK,  VAN  SOHEYK   Local. 

From  the  town  of  ScheyJc^  in  Holland. 

VAN  SCHOONHOVEN.  (Dutch.)  Local.  From  the  town 
of  Schoonhoven,  in  South  Holland,  which  signifies  "  fine 
gardens;"  from  schoon,  fine,  and  hof^  a  garden  or  court,  plural 
hoven. 

VAN  SLYCK.  Local.  From  the  channel  called  Ret  Slaec\ 
in  the  Netherlands,  which  makes  Tohn  an  island.  Slyh^ 
Dutch,  signifies  dirt,  mire.     Van  SlyJc,  "  fi:om  the  dirt." 

VAN  STEINBURaH.     (Dutch.)    From  the  stone-hiU. 

VAN  TESSEL  or  VAN  TASSEL.  (Dutch.)  From  Tessel  or 
Texel,  an  island  in  North  Holland. 

VAN  TIEL.    Local.    From  the  town  of  Tiel,  in  Holland. 

VAN  VECHTEN.  (Dutch.)  From  Vechten,  on  the  river 
Vecht,  in  Holland. 

VAN  VLECK.  (Dutch.)  From  the  town  of  Vleck,  in  Hol- 
land, which  signifies  a  httle  open  town. 

VAN  VOLKENBURa.  Local.  From  Valkenburgh,  a  town 
on  the  river  Greuse,  Netherlands. 

VAN  VORST  or  VAN  VOORST.  Local  From  the  town  of 
Vorst,  in  Holland.  Vorst,  in  Dutch,  signifies  a  prince; 
Forst,  German,  a  forest 

VAN  VRANKEN.  (Dutch.)  From  Franhenhurgh,  an  old 
town  of  the  Franhi,  or  free  men. 

VAN  WESTKLE.  Local  From  the  town  (rf  Winkel,  in  Hol- 
land. 


258  ETYMOLOOICAL   DICTIONARY 

VAN  WOERT  and  VAN  WORT.  Local.  From  Woert,  a 
town  in  Holland. 

VAN  WORDEN.  Local  Prom  Woerden,  a  town  in  Hol- 
land, 

VAN  WYCK.  Local  From  Wyck,  a  town  on  the  river 
Lech,  in  Holland. 

VAN  ZANDT.  (Dutch.)  From  the  sand ;  or  from  Zante,  an 
island  in  the  Mediterranean, 

VASSER.  (Fr.)  A  corruption  of  Vavasour^  one  who  holds 
an  estate  next  to  a  lord. 

VAUGH AN.  (Welsh.)  The  same  as  Bychan  or  Vychan,  little, 
small  in  stature. 

VEDDER  or  VEEDER.  (Dutch.)  Father,  or  literally  begetter, 
feeder. 

VENTON.     (Cor.  Br.)     A  sprmg  well 

VERBECK  (Dutch.)  From  ver,  far,  distant,  and  heeJc  or  hecJe, 
brook.     The  distant  brook. 

VERNON.    Local    From  Vernon,  a  place  in  Normandy. 

VESEY.  Local  Wet  or  fenny  land,  near  the  water,  subject 
to  inundation;  the  same  as  Fossey.  Oor.  Br.,  Vosey,  the 
ditch  or  fort  near  the  water. 

VIBBARD.  (Dutch  and  Danish.)  From  w,  or  wi,  holy,  sa- 
cred, and  hard,  a  poet. 

VICKERS.  Vicar,  the  incumbent  of  a  benefice ;  one  who  per- 
forms the  functions  of  another.  Vicar,  Cor.  Br.,  a  sovereign 
lord. 

VIELLE  or  VELAY.     Local     A  town  of  France,  in  Langue- 


VILLIERS.    Local    From  a  place  so  called,  in  France. 

VINE.    Local     Taken  from  the  plant  that  bears  the  grape ;  a 
vineyard.     "  Will  at  the  vine."     "  Will  Vine." 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  259 

VIPONT.     De  Veteri  Ponte,  from  the  old  bridge. 

VIRGrO.     (Latin.)    A  maid,  a  damsel.    Virago,  a  stout  woman. 
Virgo,  local,  Latin,  a  Roman  aqueduct. 

YIVIAN".     (Welsh.)     Vyvian,  the  small  water. 

VOG-EL.     (Dutch.)     A  bird,  a  duck;  figuratively,  a  cunning 
fellow,  a  fine  young  blade. 

VOORHEES  or  YOORES.      (Dutch.)      From  voorhuis,  the 
fore-room  of  a  house  below,  a  hall. 

VROOMAN.     (Dutch.)    From  vroom,  honest,  valiant,  religious, 
and  man — an  honest  or  valiant  man. 


WADE.     (Dutch.)     From  weide,  a  meadow  or  pasture. 

WADSWORTH.  The  same  as  Woodsworth,  the  farm  or  place 
in  the  wood. 

WAITE.  Local.  The  same  as  Thwaite,  a  piece  of  ground 
cleared  of  wood,  a  meadow. 

WAKEFIELD.  Local.  A  market-town  in  west  Yorkshire, 
England — the  watch-field. 

WAKEMAIST.  A  title  given  to  the  chief  magistrate  of  Rippon, 
in  Yorkshire,  England ;  a  watchman. 

WALDG-RAYB.  (Sax.)  From  wald,  a  forest,  and  grave,  a 
ruler  or  lord. 

WALDEK     (Sax.  and  Ger.)     A  wood,  a  woody  place, 

WALDROK     Wald,  Saxon,  a  wood. 

WALES,  WALLIS,  WALSH.  A  native  of  Wales,  a  name 
given  by  the  Anglo-Saxons  to  the  Britons  who  originally 
came  from  Gaul,  which  the  Saxons  pronounced  Wedlas, 
Wales,  Welsh,  and  Wallia.  A  principaHty  of  Great  Britain, 
on  the  west  of  England,  one  hundred  and  twenty  milea 
long,  and  eighty  broad. 


M 


ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 


WALKER.  In  the  north  of  England  and  south  of  Scotland  a 
fuUing-mill  is  still  called  a  walk-mill.  This  name  may  signify- 
either  a  fiiUer  or  an  officer  whose  duty  consisted  in  walking 
or  inspecting  a  certain  space  of  forest  ground. 

WALL.     "  John  at  the  WaU"— John  WaU. 

WALLACE  or  WALLIS.  The  same  as  Wales  or  Welch,  and 
formed  thus — Gaulish,  WaUish,  Wallis,  and  also  Welsh  or 
Welch,  a  name  given  to  the  Britons  by  their  Danish  and 
Angles  invaders,  because  they  originally  came  from  G-auL 

WALLER.  A  Gauler  or  Waller,  a  foreigner,  from  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  '■^  waller-went,^^  foreign  men,  strangers. 

WALLOCK.  In  G-aehc,  Ouah,  is  a  mountain  projection,  and 
loch,  a  lake.  WaUoch,  a  highland  dance.  QuaUah,  Cor.  Br., 
a  brag,  a  boaster. 

WALLOP.  Local.  From  the  town  of  WaUop,  in  Hampshire, 
England. 

WALPOLE.  Local.  From  Walpoh,  a  town  in  Norfolk, 
England. 

WALSH.  A  Gaul,  which  the  Germans  pronounce  with  a 
"w,"  asWallic  for  Gauhc.  WaUis,  Wallish,  Walsh.  The 
Welsh  were  originally  from  Gaul.  (See  Wales  and  Wal- 
lace.) 

WANDS.  Local.  A  place  where  Woden  was  worshiped  by 
the  Anglo-Saxons,  from  which  we  have  Wodensday  or 
Wednesday.  Wand,  Danish,  water;  wansted,  Danish,  a 
watering-place. 

WALTER.    A  wood-master  or  keeper  of  the  wood. 

WALTON.  Local.  The  name  of  several  villages  in  England, 
from  wald,  a  wood,  and  ton. 

WAMPLE  or  WEMPLE.  Local.  A  river  of  England,  from 
wem  or  uiam,  a  cleft,  a  cave,  a  low  place,  GaeKc ;  and  poll,  a 
small  lake,  a  pond,  and  the  same  in  Welsh. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  261 

WARBUKTON.  Local  From  a  township  in  Cheshire,  Eng- 
land, spelled  in  the  Doomsday  Book  Werhurghtune,  so  called 
from  a  monastery  there  situated  dedicated  to  St.  Werbergh. 

WARE.  Local.  A  town  in  Hertfordshire,  England,  so  named 
from  the  wear  in  the  river  Lee,  at  that  place. 

WARD.    A  keeper,  one  who  guards  or  defends. 

WARDLAW.  Local.  The  parish  of  Kirkhill,  in  Moray,  Scot- 
land, was  formerly  called  Wardlaws,  because  the  garrison 
of  Lovat  were  accustomed  to  keep  watch  or  ward  on  the 
law  or  hiU. 

WARNE.    An  alder-tree,  a  ship's  mast. 

WARREN.  From  Ouarenna  or  Yarenna,  in  the  county  of 
Calais,  in  Normandy,  whence  they  came  into  England  with 
WiUiam  the  Conqueror.  The  primary  sense  of  the  word  is 
to  stop,  hold,  or  repel,  to  guard,  keep  off. 

WARRENDER.  From  Warren,  and  der,  from  the  old  British 
dour,  water,  probably  given  to  a  Warren  who  hved  near 
some  water  or  river. 

WARWICK.  Local  The  county  town  of  Warwickshire, 
England.  Camden  derives  it  from  guarth,  Cor.  Br.,  a  safe- 
guard, a  garrison,  and  wick,  Saxon,  a  port  or  city.  Somner 
says  it  was  formerly  called  "  wearing-wkk,"  from  wear  and 


WASHINGTON.  Local.  Originally  Wessyngton  or  De  Wes- 
syngton.  The  name  was  taken  from  the  place  in  England 
where  the  family  originated;  from  weis,  a  wash,  a  creek 
setting  in  from  the  sea,  the  shallow  part  of  a  river,  ing,  a 
meadow  or  low  ground,  and  ton^  for  dim,  a  hill  or  town — 
the  town  on  the  wash  or  salt  river  or  creek. 

WASSEN.  Local.  From  Wessen,  a  town  in  Switzerland. 
Worsen,  in  Dutch,  signifies  to  grow,  increase. 

WATCOCK.     The  son  of  Wat  or  Walter^  cock  signifying,  Uttle. 


/ 


262  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

WATERS.  Local.  A  name  given  to  one  wlio  navigated  the 
waters,  or  resided  near  them. 

WATKINS.     From  Wat,  and  the  patronymic  termination  hins; 

the  son  of  Wat  or  Walter. 
WATKINSON.     The  son  of  Watkins. 
WATSON  and  WATTS.     The  son  of  Walter. 

WAY.  Local.  A  road  or  passage  of  any  kind ;  a  name  given 
to  one  who  resided  there.     "  Will  o'  the  Way." 

WAYLAND,  WETLAND.    Local.    From  the  Dutch,  "  W&il- 

and"  pasture-ground,  meadow-land. 
WEBSTEE.    A  maker  of  webs,  a  weaver. 

WEEDEN.  Local.  So  named  from  Weedon,  a  town  in  North- 
amptonshire, on  the  river  Nen.     Gwid-ton,  the  woody  hill. 

WEIDMAN.  (Dutch.)  From  Weid,  a  pasture  or  meadow, 
and  man, — a  herdsman. 

WELBY.  Local.  From  Wecdd-hy,  which  signifies  a  habita- 
tion in  a  wood  or  grove. 

WELD.  A  wood,  sometunes  written  Weald,  the  woody  part 
of  a  country. 

WELDEN.  Local.  From  Weald,  woody,  a  wood,  and  <few,  a 
valley. 

WELLER.  (Ang.  Saxon.)  WeUere,  a  hoUow  or  gulf.  Prob- 
ably the  same  as  Waller  (which  see). 

WELLS.  Local.  A  name  given  to  a  person  who  resided 
there.  "  John,  at  the  Wells" — John  Wells.  A  bishop's  see 
in  Somersetshire,  so  called  from  the  wells  or  springs  there. 

WEMPEL.  Wampull,  a  river  in  England.  Wimpole,  a  place 
in  London,  a  flag-staff.  Wem,  a  town  in  England,  also  in 
Scotland,  and  signifies  a  hollow  place,  a  cave ;  Wempool,  the 
pool  in  the  hollow  or  low  place. 

WEMYSS.  Local.  First  assumed  by  the  proprietors  of  the 
lands  anciently  called  Wemyss-shire,  in  Fife-shire,  Scot- 


OF    FAMILY    NAitES.  263 

land,  which  contained  all  that  tract  of  ground  lying  between 
the  lower  part  of  the  waters  of  Ore,  and  the  sea.  These 
lands  received  their  name  from  the  great  number  of  caves 
that  are  there,  all  along  the  sea-coast.  A  cave  in  the  old 
Gaelic  or  Celtic,  was  called  vumhs  or  uamh  ;  from  that  these 
lands  received  the  name  of  Vumhs-shire — Wemys-shire. 
The  family  of  Wemyss  derive  their  origin  from  the  family 
of  Macduff,  Maormor  of  Fife,  in  the  reign  of  Malcom  Can- 
more.  The  lands  now  forming  the  parish  of  Wemyss,  are 
said  to  have  been  part  of  the  estate  of  Macduff,  Shakespeare's 
well-known  Thane  of  Fife. 

WENDELL.  (Dutch.)  Wandekmrj  a  walker,  hence  a  travel- 
er. The  name  may  be  local,  and  derived  from  WandU^  a 
river  ia  Surrey,  England. 

WENTWORTH.  Local.  The  Worth,  farm,  or  place,  on  the 
river  Went,  in  Northumberland,  England. 

WERDEN.  (Ger.)  Local.  From  Wehr,  a  fortification,  and 
den,  a  hill ;  a  town  in  the  Netherlands  called  Woerden. 

WESTALL.    Local.     The  West-Hall 

WESTCOTT.  The  west  cot;  so  Eastcott,  and  Southcote. 
WestmacoU,  Saxon,  a  banker,  a  money  lender. 

WESTMORELAND.  Local.  A  comity  of  England;  the 
"  West-moor-land." 

WESTERYELDT.  (Dutch.)  The  west  field,  from  We&ter, 
west,  and  veldt,  a  field. 

WESTON.  The  west  town.  Derived  from  a  small  village  in 
England. 

WETHERBY.  Local.  A  town  in  west  Yorkshire,  England; 
the  wide  or  extended  village ;  Weider,  Dutch,  a  herdsman, 
Weideri,  the  place  of  fattening  cattle,  and  hy,  a  village. 

WETHERSPOON,  WITHERSPOON,  WODDERSPOON. 
Local.  A  grazing-place  in  the  spur  of  a  mountain  or  hill  j 
Weider,  Dutch  or  Saxon,  and  span,  to  unite,  bend,  extend. 


264  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIOKARY 

WETHERWAX.  (Dutch.)  WeiderwacM,  from  wdder^  a 
herdsman,  and  wacht,  a  watch,  a  guard ;  weide,  a  pasture,  a 
meadow ;  weideri,  a  pasture  for  fattening  cattle. 

WETSEL.    Local.    From  Wezel,  a  town  on  the  lower  Rhine. 

WHALLE Y.  Having  greenish  white  eyes ;  wall-eyed.  This 
name  is  also  local,  and  is  the  name  of  a  village  in  Lan- 
cashire, England. 

WHEADEN  and  WHEDEN.  An  old  English  west  country 
term  for  a  silly  fellow.  Also  the  name  of  a  small  village  in 
England,  whence  the  name  may  be  derived. 

WHEALDON  or  WHIELDON.    Local    (Cor.  Br.)    A  place 

where  mines  are  worked.     Whecd  is  frequently  applied  to 
signify  a  mine,  and  dun  or  din,  a  hill. 

WHEATON.  Local  So  called  from  a  place  of  the  same 
name  on  the  river  Nen,  Northamptonshire,  England. 
WTiiUorbj  Saxon,  the  white  hill.     Whiddon,  Cor.  Br.,  white. 

WHEELER    A  name  of  trade. 

WHEELOCK    From  a  village  in  Cheshire,  England,  of  the 
same  name. 

WHITBY.  That  is  "White-town,"  or  bay;  a  town  in  York- 
shire, England. 

WHITE.  A  name  given  from  the  color  of  the  hair,  or  com- 
plexion. The  name  may  be  also  local,  derived  from  the  Isle 
of  Wight,  on  the  coast  of  Hampshire,  so  called  from  the 
Welsh,  Qwydd,  wood,  from  its  primitive  forest 

WHITma.  (Sax.)  The  white  or  fair  offspring.  The  Saxon 
termination  ing,  denoted  offspring  or  child,  as  Cuthing,  the 
child  of  Cuth,  Dun-nmg,  the  brown  oflfepring,  &c. 

WHITLOCK.     (Sax.)     Fair  hair. 

WHITFIELD.    Local     The  white  field. 

WHITFORD.    Local    The  white  ford. 


OF   FAMILY   NAMES.  265 

WHITMAN.  From  wight,  in  old  English,  Uvely,  quick,  and 
man,  or  from  the  Dutch,  w^ht,  weighty,  ponderous,  WigJit- 
man,  a  stout  man,  or  it  may  be,  after  aU,  simply  White-man. 

WHITNEY.  (Sax.)  From  Hwit,  white,  and  ea,  watei,  or  ige^ 
an  island ;  a  town  in  Oxfordshire,  England. 

WHITTAKER.  Local.  The  north  part  of  a  graveyard  allot- 
ted to  tlie  poor  was  called  whittaher,  from  wite,  a  penalty,  and 
acre, — a  place  of  burial  for  criminals.  A  culprit  who  could 
not  discharge  the  penalty  or  wite  became  a  "  witetheow,"  and 
was  buried  in  the  wite-acre.  Bailey  defines  Whittaker  "  the 
north-east  part  of  a  flat  or  shoal — ^the  middle  ground." 

WICKER.  A  man  of  the  creek  or  bay,  from  Wick,  a  creek, 
bay,  a  village.     Uahher,  Danish,  valiant,  brave. 

WICKHAM.  (Sax.)  From  wic,  the  vdnding  of  a  river  or 
port,  and  comh,  a  valley.  A  town  in  Buckinghamshire, 
England — the  sheltered,  place,  house,  or  town. 

WICKLIFF.  (Sax.)  From  Hwic,  white,  and  Uif,  a  rock  or 
cliff;  or  rather  from  wic,  a  Saxon  word  for  borough  or  vil- 
lage, the  town  on  the  cliff;  a  village  six  miles  from  Rich- 
mond, in  Yorkshire,  England,  from  which  the  family  derive 
their  name,  and  of  which  they  were  possessed  from  the 
time  of  the  Conquest  by  William  the  Conqueror  till  the 
year  1606.  Wycliffe  translated  the  Bible  in  1338,  and  one 
half  of  the  nation  before  his  death  are  said  to  have  em- 
braced, in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  his  opinions,  which 
spread  with  rapidity  over  Europe. 

WIG-AN  and  WIG-GIN.  Local.  From  Wigan,  a  town  on 
the  river  Douglass,  Lancashire,  England. 

WILBERFORCE.  Local.  That  is,  Wild-boar-foss,  a  dike,  a 
ditch.      Wilr-hurgh-foss. 

WILBRAHAM.  For  Wilburgham  or  Wild-hurgh-ham.  Local 
A  town  in  Kent,  England. 

WILBUR  or  WILBOR.    A  contraction  of  Wildboar. 

12 


266  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

WILCOX.  From  Will,  and  cock,  which  signifies,  little.  Will's 
son,  Williamson.     "A  willcock,"  one  rather  obstinate. 

WTLDEE.  A  traveler,  foreigner,  or  pilgrim,  the  same  as 
Waller,  from  the  Saxon  vyealh,  a  traveler,  or  one  who  in- 
habits the  forest  or  grounds  micultivated. 

WTLEJNS.    From  WU,  and  the  patronymic  termination  hinSj 

the  son  of  William. 
WILKmSON.    The  son  of  Wilkins. 

WILLAKD.  One  who  has  a  determined  disposition,  from 
will,  choice,  ccmimand,  and  ardj  the  Teutonic  of  art^  strength, 
nature,  disposition. 

WILLET.    Little  William,  or  the  son  of  WiUiam. 

WILLIAM.  From  the  Belgic  Cfuild-Jtehn,  harnessed  with  a 
gilded  hehnet;  cTj  as  others  say,  from  Welhelm,  the  shield 
or  defense  of  many. 

WILLIAMSON.    The  son  of  WiUiam. 

WILLIS.  Willy's,  the  son  of  WiUy,  the  "  &''  being  added  for 
son. 

WILLOUGHBY.  Local  From  the  lordship  of  Willoughby, 
in  Lincohishire,  England,  given  to  a  Norman  knight  by 
William  the  Conqueror. — The  town  or  habitation  by  the 
willows. 

WILMOT.  May  be  a  corruption  of  Guitlemot,  a  name  frequent 
in  France  in  early  timies,  derived  from  QuUhmm,  William. 

WILSON.    The  son  of  William  or  Will, 

WILTON.  Local.  From  a  town  in  Wilt^iire,  England,  so 
called  from  the  river  WWey,  and  ionj  a  town. 

WILTSHIRE.  Local.  A  county  in  England  j  Welsh,  5'i(;2/Z?^, 
a  wild,  foresty  a  desert^  and  sMre,  a  division,  a  county. 

WIMPLE.    (Dutch.)    A  streamer,  pendant. 

WINCH.  Local  A  place  in  the  county  of  Norfolk,  England 
Tnyis,  Welsh^  an  island. 


OS  FAMILY   NAMES.  '  267 

WINCHCOMBE.  (Sax.)  Local.  From  wincely  a  corner,  and 
comb,  a  valley — a  valley  encompassed  on  each  side  "with 
hUls. 

WINCHEL.  (Dutch.)  From  Winschaal,  a  wine-bowl,  a  wine- 
shop ;  German,  WeinsaM,  a  wine-hall  or  shop. 

WINCHESTER.  Local.  A  city  of  Hampshke,  England, 
called  Caerwynt  by  the  Britons,  from  Caer,  a  city,  town,  or 
fortified  place,  and  gwint,  wind,  from  its  being  a  windy  place. 
The  Welsh  gwin  signifies  wine,  as  if  called  the  "  Wine  City" 
So  Howel,  in  his  Londonopohs,  quotes  fi^om  old  Robert  of 
Glo'cester : 

"  In  the  country  of  Canterbury  most  plenty  of  fish  is; 
And  most  chase  of  beasts  about  Salisbury  I  wis, 
And  London  ships  most,  and  wine  at  Winchester, 
Soap  about  Coventry,  and  iron  at  Glo'cester ; 
Metal,  lead,  and  tin  in  the  county  of  Exceter, 
Euorwick  of  fairest  wood,  Lincoln  of  fairest  men, 
Cambridge  and  Huntingdon  most  plenty  of  deep  venne, 
Ely  of  fairest  place,  of  fairest  sight,  Rochester." 

Bailey  defines  it  the  "White  City,"  from  the  Welsh  "Coer 
guenifj'  because  it  is  built  upon  a  chalky  soil. 

WINDHAM.  Local  A  town  in  the  county  of  Norfolk,  Eng- 
land, said  to  be  a  corruption  of  Wimwnd-han,  "  the  home  or 
village  of  Wimund." 

WINDSOR.  Local.  A  town  m  Berkshire,  England.  The 
name  is  a  corruption  of  Wind-shore,  from  the  winding  shore 
of  the  Thames  in  that  place.  . 

WINEG-AR.     (Dutch.)     From  Wyngaard,  a  vine. 

WINEKOOP.  (Dutch.)  Something  to  drink  upon  the  bar- 
gain. 

WING-.  Local.  A  village  in  the  county  of  Buckingham, 
England. 


268  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

WING-FIELD.  Local  From  the  manor  of  Wingfield,  in  Suf- 
folk, England. 

WINNE.     (Welsh.)     The  same  as  Qwynne,  white. 

WINSHIP.  Probably  the  same  as  Wineshop.  Saxon,  Win, 
German  Wein,  and  JSceapian,  Saxon,  to  make,  furnish;  a 
maker  or  vender  of  wine. 

WESTSLOW.  Local  From  the  town  of  Winslow,  in  Buckmg- 
hamshire,  England. 

WESTTERTON.  Local  From  the  village  of  Winterton,  in  the 
county  of  Norfolk,  England,  so  called  from  its  cold  situation. 

WINTHROP.  Local.  A  corruption  of  Wmthorp,  or  Wine- 
thorpe,  the  wine  village,  jfrom  luin,  wine,  and  thorp,  a  village. 

WIRE,  WEIR,  WARE.  Local.  A  market  town  of  Hertford- 
shire, England.  Saxon  Waer,  to  defend,  to  hold,  protect. 
Wear,  a  fence  of  stakes  or  rods  set  in  a  stream  for  catching 
fish;  a  dam. 

WISE,  and  WISEMAN.  A  name  given  for  the  quality  of 
wisdom. 

WISHART.  Some  ancient  writers  say,  that  Robert,  son  of 
David,  Earl  of  Huntingdon,  took  on  him  the  cross,  and  dis- 
tinguished himself  in  the  Holy  Land,  where,  fi"om  his  gallant 
exploits  against  the  Saracens,  he  received  the  name  of  Gfuis- 
hart,  that  is,  Wise-?ieart,  now  Wishart. 

WISWALL.  Local.  From  WeisweU,  a  town  in  Baden,  on  the 
Rhine,  Germany. 

WITHERINQTON.  A  contraction  of  Wooderington.  From 
Saxon  wyderian,  to  wither,  and  dun,  a  hill.  The  withered 
or  dry  hill.  A  place  in  Northumberland,  England.  Weid^ 
erington,  the  place  of  pasturing  cattle,  Dutch,  Weide,  a  pas- 
ture, weider,  one  who  takes  care  of  cattle,  a  herdsman. 

WITTER.     (Dutch.)     A  whitener,  a  fuUer,  bleacher. 


OF    FAMILY    NAMES.  269 

WOLSEY  or  WOOLSEY.  Local.  That  is,  the  WoUs-ley, 
from  wold,  a  wood,  a  lawn,  and  sometunes  a  plain,  and  lie, 
or  ley,  a  place. 

WOOD.  A  surname  very  ancient  in  Scotland,  first  called  De 
Bosco.     The  family  bore  trees  in  their  coat  of  arms. 

WOODRUFF.  Woodroof,  from  Wood-re&ve,  the  governor  or 
keeper  of  a  wood,  a  forester. 

WOODWARD.  Wood-ward,  a  forest-keeper  or  ofl&cer,  who 
walked  with  a  forest-bill,  and  took  cognizance  of  all  offenses 
committed. 

WOODWORTH.    Local.    The  farm  or  place  m  the  wood.. 

WOOL.  One  having  short,  thick  hair.  It  may  be  a  corruption 
of  Wolf,  or  WiU. 

WOOLLEY.  Local.  WoU-ley,  uncultivated  landa>  bills  with- 
out wood. 

WOOSTER.    A  corruption  of  Worcester  (which  see). 

WORCESTER.  Local.  A  county  and  city  of  England,  which 
Bailey  derives  from  Sax.  Were,  a  forest,  and  Cester,  a  camp  or 
city.  I  prefer  deriving  it  from  Warcester,  the  city  or  castle 
of  strife,  from  the  Saxon  Woer,  war,  strife,  with  which  the 
ancient  British  name  agrees,  called  Caerwrangon,  the  castle 
or  fort  of  strife  and  contention.  It  was  a  boundary  for 
many  years  between  the  Britons  and  Saxons.  (See  Chester.) 

WORTH.  (Sax.)  Local.  A  court,  farm,  possession,  place, 
field  or  way ;  the  place  valued,  sold,  or  granted. 

WYLIE.     A  form  of  WiUie  or  William ;  or  wily,  artful,  sly. 

WYMAN.  (Dutch.)  From  Weiman,  a  huntsman,  a  hunter; 
one  who  shoots  the  game. 


YAG-ER.    (G-erman  and  Danish.)    Jager,  a  huntsman.    Togere, 
also  signifies  a  sweet-heart 


2*70  DICTIONARY  OF    FAMILY    NAMES. 

YALE.    Local.    From  a  lordship  of  the  same  name  in  Wales. 

YAEE.     (Sax.)     Ready,  dexterous,  eager. 

YARROW.  A  plant;  the  millfoil,  or  plant  of  a  thousand 
leaves. 

YATES.    An  old  word  for  Gate.    The  same  as  Grates. 

YEOMAN.  A  man  free-bom,  a  freeholder ;  one  next  in  order 
to  the  gentry. 

YETT.    A  gate,  a  way,  a  passage,  the  same  as  Yates. 

YORK  Local.  A  city  in  England  next  in  esteem  to  London. 
Verstegan  derives  its  name  from  Eure-ric  or  Eovsr-ric,  of 
Euere^  a  wild  boar,  and  rye,  a  refuge ;  a  retreat  from  the 
wild  boars  which  were  in  the  forest  of  Gautries.  The 
Romans  called  the  city  Ehoracum;  it  is  memorable  for  the 
death  of  two  emperors,  Severus  and  Constantius  Ohlorus, 
and  for  the  nativity  of  Constantine  the  G-reat. 

YOUNGHUSBAND.  A  surname  borrowed  from  the  social 
relations. 

YOUNGLOVE.  Given  on  account  of  his  age,  and  tender  af- 
fection. 

YULE.  (Sax.)  Christmas,  borrowed  from  this  festival,  or  the 
time  of  nativity.    'TAe,  Greek,  a  wood,  a  forest. 


CHEISTIAN  NAMES. 


CHRISTIAN  NAMES. 


NAMES    OF    MEN. 

AARON.      (Heb.)      Signifies   a   mountameer^  a   mount   dS 
strength. 

ABDALLAH.     (Turkish.)    The  servant  of  God. 

ABEL.     (Heb.)     Signifies  vanity,  breath. 

ABIATHAR     (Heb.)    ExceUent  father. 

ABIEZBE.     (Heb.)    My  father's  help. 

ABIJAH.     (Heb.)    The  will  of  the  Lord,  or  the  Lord  is  my 
father. 

ABISHUR.    (Heb.)    My  father's  attention. 
ABNER.     (Heb.)     The  lamp  or  son  of  the  father. 
ABRAHAM*     (Heb.)    The  father  of  a  great  multitude. 

ABSALOM.     (Heb.)    A  father  of  peace. 

ADAM.     (Heb.)    Taken  out  of  red  earth.  L\.    fl^  ..--T^r.^^V'^iS^ 
ADIEL.     (Heb.)    The  witness  of  the  Lord. 
ADOLPHUS  or  ADOLPH.     (Sax.)     From  Ead,  happiness, 
and  ulphj  help — ^happy  help. 

ADRIAN.    (Latin.)    Local.    From  the  city  of  Hadria.    Oesner 
derives  it  fi-om  the  Greek  a6pog,  great  or  wealthy. 

.^aTEAS.    (Lat.)    Laudable. 

12* 


274  ETYMOLOGICAL    DICTIONARY 

AGrRIPPA.  (Lat)  ^ger-parius^  one  that  causeth  pain  at 
his  birth,  who  is  bom  with  his  feet  foremost. 

ALAN.  Is  thought  by  Julius  Scaliger  to  signify  a  hound  in 
the  Sclavonian,  and  Chaucer  uses  Aland  in  the  same  sense. 

ALBERT,     (aer.)     AH  bright  or  famous. 

ALEXANDER.  (Greek.)  An  aider  or  benefactor  of  men,  a 
powerful  auxihary,  from  dAefw,  to  aid,  assist,  and  dv^p,  a 
man. 

ALFRED.    (Sax.)    AU  peace. 
ALMOND.    AUemand, — a  Grerman. 
ALPHONSO.     (Gothic.)    Our  help,  from  Return. 

ALWIN.  (Sax.)  From  alU,  all,  and  win,  a  victor — all  vic- 
torious. 

AMASA.    A  forgiving  people. 

AMBROSE.     (Greek.)    From  'Afi^poaZoc,  immortal 

AMOS.     Loading,  weighty. 

ANDREW.  (Greek.)  A  brave  man.  'Avdpeia,  courage, 
bravery,  manhood,  from  'Avifp,  a  man. 

ANTHONY.  (Greek.)  From  'Avdog,  a  flower,  flourishing, 
beautiful,  graceful. 

APOLLOS.    One  that  destroys  or  lays  waste. 

ARCHIBALD.  (Ger.)  A  powerful,  bold,  and  speedy  learner 
or  observer. 

ARIEL.     (Heb.)     Light  or  Zion  of  God. 

ARNOLD.  (Ger.)  According  to  Camden,  signifies  honest, 
but  the  Germans  write  it  Ernold.    Prdbvs  in  Latin. 

ARTEMAS.    Holy,  agreeable. 

ARTHUR.  (Br.)  A  strong  man.  (See  fuller  derivation  in 
Pictionary  of  Surnames.) 


OF   CHRISTIAN   NAMES.  2^4 

ASA.    Physician  or  cure. 

ASAETEL.    The  work  or  creature  of  G-od. 

ASENATH.     (Heb.)    PerH  or  misfortune. 

ASHER     (Heb.)     Happy,  blessed. 

AUaUSTUS.     (Lat)    Noble,  royal,  ImpeiiaL 

AUG-USTINE  and  AUSTIN.  (Latin.)  A  contraction  of 
Augustine,  from  Augustinus^  imperial,  royal,  great,  or  re- 
nowned. 

AZARIAH.    Assistance. 

BALDWIN.  (G-er.)  The  speedy  conqueror  or  victor,  from 
haldj  quick  or  speedy,  and  wvn^  an  old  word  signifying 
victor  or  conqueror. 

BAPTISTE.  (Greek.)  BaTrrtffT^f,  a  baptizer,  the  title  of  St 
John. 

BARDULPH.    (Ger.)    The  same  as  Bertulph,  fair  help. 

BARNABY  and  BARNABAS.    (Heb.)    Son  of  consolation. 

BARNABAS.    Son  of  the  prophet,  or  consolation. 

BARTIMEUS.  (Heb.)  The  son  of  Tuneus.  Timeus  signifies 
perfect,  honorable,  admirable. 

BARTHOLOMEW.  (Heb.)  The  son  of  him  who  maketh  the 
waters  to  mount 

BARZILLAI.    (Heb.)    Made  of  iron,  or  the  son  of  contempt 

BASIL.    (Grreek.)    From  Baaaedc,  a  king ;  royal,  kingly. 

BENEDICT.  (Latin.)  From  Benedictm,  blessed,  well  spoken 
o^  or  a  person  wishing  all  good. 

BENJAMIN.    (Heb.)    The  son  of  the  right  hand. 

BENNET.  A  contraction  or  rather  a  corruption  of  Benedict, 
from  the  Latin,  Benedicim,  blessed. 


21 6  ETTMOLOaiCAL  DICTIONARY  ^ 

BENONI.     (Heb.)    Son  of  my  grief,  sorrow. 

BEEIAH.     (Heb.)    In  feUowship. 

BERNARD.     (Teutonic.)    Of  a  child-like  disposition. 

BERTRAM.     (Sax.)    Fair  and  pure. 

BEULAH.    (Heb.)    Married. 

BOAZ.     (Heb.)    In  strength,  a  pillar. 

BOKTFACE.    (Lat.)    WeU-doer. 

BOTOLPH.  (Sax.)  Help-ship  or  sailor.  Sailors  in  that  age 
were  called  Botescarles. 

BRIAN  and  BRIANT.    (Fr.)    Shrill-voiced. 

C-(ESAR.  (Latin.)  From  ccedo,  to  cut, — a  name  said  to  have 
been  given  to  one  who  was  cut  from  his  mother's  womb. 
Ccesaries,  a  head  of  hair. 

CAIUS.    Parents' joy. 

CALEB.    A  dog,  cow,  or  basket. 

CALISTHENES.     (Greek.)    Beautiful  and  strong. 

CARADOO.     (Br.)    Dearly  beloved. 

CARLOS.    The  same  as  Charles. 

CHARLES.  (Grer.)  From  carl,  strong,  stout,  courageous, 
valiant. 

CHESTER.  A  surname,  now  used  as  a  Christian  name.  From 
the  city  of  Chester,  so  called  from  the  Latin  casirum,  a  forti- 
fied place,  a  camp.  Chester  was  the  principal  encampment 
of  the  Romans  in  Britain. 

CHRISTIAN.     The  derivation  of  this  name  is  evident. 

CHRISTOPHER.  (Qreek.)  From  XpioTog,  Christ,  literaUy, 
anointed,  and  <j>epo),  to  bear ;  Christ's  carrier. 

CLARENCE.     (Lat)    From  Chrus,  clear,  bright. 


OF   CHRISTIAN   NAMES.  —       27 Y 

CLAUDIUS.  (Lat.)  Erom  Ckivda,  the  name  of  an  island 
near  Crete.  A  name  given  to  a  native  of  that  island.  It 
signifies  a  broken  or  a  weeping  voice. 

CLEMENT.     (Lat.)     Ohmms,  meek,  gentle,  kind. 

.  CONRAD.     (Ger.)     Able  counsel. 

CONSTANTIKE.     (Lat.)    Consfantinus,  fast,  firm,  unyielding. 

CORNELIUS.  (Latin  and  Greek.)  From  cornu,  a  horn,  and 
^Aiof,  the  sun. 

CRISPIN.     (Lat.)    Crispinus,  from  crispus,  having  curled  hair. 

CUTHBERT.  (Sax.)  Famous,  bright,  of  clear  skiU  or  knowl- 
edge. 

CYPRIAN.     (Greek.)    From  the  isle  of  Cyprus. 

CYRUS.    An  heir,  or  miserable. 


DANIEL.     (Heb.)    Judgment  of  God. 

DAVID.     (Heb.)     Beloved,  dear. 

DEMETRIUS.     (Greek.)     Belonging  to  Ceres.  ^^ 

DENIS,  or  DENNIS.      A  contraction  of  Dionysius  (which 

see). 
DERRICK,  DERICK,  and  DIRK.    (Dutch.)    An  abbreviation 

of  Theodorick  (which  see). 

DIODORUS.  (Greek.)  From  Aibg,  Jove  or  Jupiter,  and 
Supog,  a  gift — ^the  gift  of  Jove. 

DYONYSIUS.  (Greek.)  A  name  of  Bacchus,  the  god  of 
wine. 

DIOTREPHES.  (Greek.)  Nourished  by  Jupiter,  from  Aide, 
genitive  of  Ze-ug,  Jupiter,  and  Tpe(l)o,  to  feed,  to  nourish. 

DOMINICK.  (Lat.)  From  Dominica,  the  Lord's  day ;  Sun- 
day, from  Dominus,  the  Lord.  A  name  given  to  a  child 
born  on  Sunday. 


6Y8  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIOUTARY  ^^ 

DUNSTAN.    (Sax.)    Fronl  dun,  a  hill,  and  staiij  a  ston©— a 
name  of  place. 


EBENEZER.    (Heb.)    The  stone  of  help. 

EDMUND.     (Sax.)    From  Eadj  blessed,  and  mund,  peace — 
blessed  peace. 

EDWARD.    (Sax.)    From  Eadj  blessed,  and  ard,  nature  or 
disposition. 

EDWIN.    (Sax.)    From  Bad^  blessed  or  happy,  and  «;m,  a 
conqueror. 

ELD  AD.    (Heb.)    Loved  or  favored  of  God. 

ELEAZER     (Heb.)    The  help  or  court  of  God. 

ELL     (Heb.)     The  oflfering  or  lifting  up. 

ELIAB.     (Heb.)     God,  my  father. 

ELIAS.    (Heb.)    God  the  Lord,  or  the  strong  Lord. 

ELIHU.     (Heb.)     He  is  my  God  himself. 

ELIJAH.     (Heb.)    The  same  as  Elias  (which  see). 

ELIPHALET.    (Heb.)    The  God  of  deUverance. 

ELISHA.     (Heb.)    Salutation  of  God. 

ELIU.     (Heb.)    The  same  as  Elihu. 

ELIZUR.     (Heb.)     God  is  my  rock,  or  strength. 

ELON.     (Heb.)     Oak,  or  grove,  or  strong. 

ELYMAS.    In  Arabic  signifies  a  magician. 

EMMANUEL.    (Heb.)    God  with  us. 

ENEAS.     (Greek.)    Laudable,  from  alveu,  I  praise,  prudent, 
discreet,  in  Gaelic,  Aongaos, 

ENOCH.     (Heb.)    Dedicated,  disciplined,  well-regulated. 

ENOa    (Heb.)    Fallen  man. 


1 


OF    CHRISTIAN   NAMES.  2t9 

EPAPHRAS.     (Heb.)    Covered  with  foani. 

EPHRAIM.     (Heb.)     That  brings  fruit,  or  that  grows. 

EEASMUS.      (G-reek.)     'Epdai/ioc,  amiable,  lovely,  same   as 
Erastus.  . 

ERASTUS.     (Greek.)    From  'Epaarbg,  lovely  or  amiable. 

ERNEST.     (Sax.)     Eornest,  earnest. 

ESEK.     (Heb.)     Contention,  violence,  or  force. 

ETHELARD.     (Sax.)    Noble  disposition. 

ETHELBERT.     (Sax.)    Noble-bright,  or  nobly  renowned. 

ETHELSTAN.     (Sax.)    Noble-jewel,  precious  stone,  or  most 

noble. 
ETHELWARD.    (Sax.)    Noble  keeper. 
ETHEL  WOLD.     (Sax.)    Noble  governor. 
ETHELWOLE.     (Sax.)    Noble  helper. 
.ETHAN.    Strength. 

EUaENE.     (Greek.)    From  Evyev^g,  nobly  bom. 
EUSTACE.     (Greek.)    From  Evarae^Q,  standing  firm,  resolute. 
EVERARD.     (Sax.)     Always  honored. 
EZEKIEL.     God  is  my  strength. 
EZRA.    A  helper. 

FABIAN.    (Lat.)    From  FaUus,  a  kind  of  bean. 

FELIX.     (Lat.)    Happy. 

FERDINAND.     (Ger.)    From  Fred,  peace,  and  randj  pure, 
that  is,  pure  peace. 

FRANCIS.     From  Franc,  free,  not  servile,  or  bond. 

FRANKLIN.     A  freeholder.     (See  Dictionary  of  Surnames.) 

FREDERICK.    (Ger.)    Rich  peace,  or  peaceable  reign. 


S^^  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

FTJLLBERT.    (Sax.)    FuU-bright. 

FULKjE.  (Sax.)  Some  derive  it  from  the  G-erman  VoUg, 
noble  and  gallant,  but  Camden  from  Folc,  the  English-Saxon 
word  for  people,  folk ;  like  the  Roman  Puhlius,  beloved  of 
the  people  and  commons. 


GABRIEL.     (Heb.)    A  man  of  God,  or  God  is  my  strengiL 

GAITJS.     (Greek.)    Earthly.    From  Talog,  corruptible,  mortal 

GALLIC.    Milky. 

GAMALIEL.     (Heb.)    Recompense  of  God. 

GARRET.    A  corruption  of  Gerard  (which  see).  ■ 

GEDEOK     (Heb.)     He  that  bruises  and  breaks. 

GEFFREY.  (Ger.)  From  G^aw,joyftd,  and /re(?,  peace;  joy- 
ful peace. 

.  GEOFFREY.     (Sax.)    From  Gau,  glad,  and  fred,  peace. 

GEORGE.     (Greek.)     A  husbandman,  from  Tcupybg. 

GERARD.     (Sax.)    From  Gar,  all,  and  ard,  nature. 

GERMAIN.     (Ger.)     AU  victorious. 

GERVAS.     (Ger.)     All  sure,  firm,  or  fast. 

GIFFORD.     (Ger.)    Liberal  disposition. 

GILBERT.  (Ger.)  Bright  pledge,  from  Gisle,  a  pledge;  or 
gold-like  bright,  from  the  Saxon,  Geele,  yeUow. 

GILES,  ^gidius,  Latin  of  A/y^f,  Greek,  a  goat's  skin;  so  the 
old  writers  derive  it,  but  it  is  more  probably  from  the  Ger- 
man Gisel,  or  Gese\  a  companion. 

GOD  ARD.     (Sax.)    From  God,  God  or  good,  and  ard,  nature 
— endowed  with  a  divine  disposition. 

GODFREY.     (Ger.)    God's  peace,  godly. 

GODWIN.     (Sax.)    Converted,  or  victorious  in  God. 


OF   CHRISTIAN   NAMES.  281 

GEACCHUS.     (Lat.)    Thin. 

GREGORY.    From  the  Greek  Tpeyopeu,  to  watch,  watchfiil,  a 

shepherd. 

GRIFFITH.     (Br.)     Strong  faith. 
GUILBERT.    The  same  as  GHberL 
GUY.    A  guide,  leader,  or  director. 

HADRIAN,  and  ADRIAN.  (Lat.)  From  the  city  Hadria, 
whence  Hadrian  the  Emperor  had  his  origin.  Gesner  de- 
rives it  from  the  Greek  "ASpog^  wealthy. 

HAMOK     (Heb.)    FaithM. 

HANNIBAL.    Gracious  lord. 

HAROLD.     (Sax.)    Leader  of  the  army,  or  love  of  the  army* 

HAZEL.     (Heb.)    One  that  sees  God. 

HEBER.    One  that  passes,  anger,  wrath. 

HECTOR.     (Greek.)    Defender. 

HEMAN.     (Heb.)     Their  trouble,  tumult,  in  great  numbers. 

HENGIST.     (Sax.)    Horseman. 

HENRY.  (Sax.)  From  Mnrich^  ever  rich,  or  from  Honori- 
cuSj  honorable. 

HERBERT.  (Sax.)  From  Here,  an  army,  and  leorU,  bright, 
— the  glory  of  the  army.  Verstegan  derives  it  from  Here, 
an  army,  and  the  Teutonic  bericht,  instructed, — an  expert 
soldier. 

HERMON  and  HARMON.     (Ger.)     General  of  an  army. 

HERCULES.     (Greek.)     Glory  or  illumination  of  the  air. 

HEZEKIAH.     (Heb.)     Strong  in  the  Lord. 

HIEL.     (Heb.)     God  lives,  or  the  life  of  God. 

HILDEBERT.     (Ger.)    Bright  or  famous  lord. 

HIRAM.     (Heb.)     Exaltation  of  Hfe. 

HOMER.     (Greek.)    "Ofijjpog.    A  hostage,  a  pledge  or  security. 


282  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

HORACE.    From  Latin,  Eoratius.     (See  below.) 

HORATIO.      (Lat.)     EoratiziSj   from  the  Greek,   Spdrdcj  or 
dpariKhc^  of  good  eyesight, 

HOSEA.     (Heb.)     Salvation. 

HUBERT.     (Sax.)    Of  clear,  bright  color. 

HUGH.     High,  or  exalted 

HUMPHREY.    (Sax.)    From  Hum-freA^  house-peace. 

lOHABOD.     (Heb.)    Where  is  the  glory. 
IRA.     (Heb.)     City  watch,  or  heap  of  vision.    , 
ISAAC.     (Heb.)    Laughter. 
ISAIAH.    (Heb.)    Salvation  of  the  Lord. 
ISRAEL.     (Heb.)    A  prince  of  the  strong  God. 
IVAN".    The  same  as  John  in  G«,elic  and  Welsh. 

JACOB.     (Heb.)    He  that  supplants,  a  supplanter. 

JAEL.    (Heb.)    A  kid,  ascending. 

JAMES.     (Heb.)     The  same  as  Jacob. 

JARED.     (Heb.)     One  that  rules  or  descends. 

JASPER.    (Greek.)    From  'laamq^  a  precious  stone  of  a  green 
color,  transparent,  with  red  veins. 

JASON.    (Greek.)    'Idauv,    He  that  cures,  from  'Ido/iai,  to  heal. 

JEDEDIAH.     (Heb.)    Beloved  of  the  Lord. 

JEREMIAH.     (Heb.)    Exaltation  or  grandeur  of  the  Lord. 

JEREMY.     (Heb.)    High  of  the  Lord. 

JESSE.     (Heb.)    My  present,  or  who  is  to  be. 

JOAB.     (Heb.)    Paternity. 


OP   CHRISTIAN   NAMES.  28S 

JOB.     (Heb.)    He  that  weeps. 

JOEL.     (Heb.)     One  that  wills  or  commands. 

JOHN.     (Heb.)     Signifies  the  grace  or  gift  of  the  Lord. 

JONADAB.     (Heb.)    Liberal,  one  who  acts  as  a  prince. 

JONAH  and  JONAS.     (Heb.)    A  dove. 

JONATHAN.     (Heb.)     The*  gift  of  the  Lord. 

JOSCELIN.     A  diminutive  from  Jost  or  Justus,  just. 

JOSEPH.     (Heb.)     Increase,  addition. 

JOSHUA.     (Heb.)    The  Lord,  the  Saviour. 

JOSIAH.     (Heb.)     The  fire  of  the  Lord. 

JUDAS.     (Heb.)     Same  as  Judah,  praise  of  the  Lord. 

JULIUS.     (Greek.)    Soft  haired,  or  mossy-bearded. 

JUSTIN.     (Lat)    From  Justus,  just,  virtuous. 

KENARD.    (Sax.)    Kind  disposition. 
KENHELM.     (Sax.)     Defense  of  his  kindred. 
KENNETH,     (aaelic.)    From  Ceann,  the  head— a  chieftain. 

LAMBERT.     (Sax.)     Fair  lamb. 
LAWRENCE.     (Lat.)    Flourishing. 
LAZARUS.     (Heb.)    Lord's  help. 
LEGrER.     (Ger.)    Leodegar,  gatherer  of  peoples. 
LEMUEL.    (Heb.)    God  is  with  them. 
LEO.     (Lat.)     A  lion. 
LEOFSTAN.     (Sax.)    Most  beloved. 
LEOFWIN.     (Sax.)    Win  love,  or  to  be  loved. 


284  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

LEONAED.    (Sax.)    Lion-like  disposition. 

LEOPOLD.     (Qer.)    Defender  of  the  people. 

LEVI.     (Heb.)     One  who  is  held  and  associated. 

LEWIS.  A  contraction  of  Ludovicics,  Latin  for  the  Teutonic 
Ludwig,  from  Leod  or  I/ud,  the  people,  and  wich,  a  castle — 
the  safeguard  of  the  people. 

LINUS.    Nets.  • 

LIONEL.     (Lat.)    LioneUus,  little  lion. 

LOUIS.  (Ft.)  Contraction  of  Ludovicus  or  Ludwig.  (See 
Lewis.) 

LUCIUS.  (Lat.)  From  liuc,  light  A  name  first  given  to 
children  born  at  the  dawning  of  the  day. 

LUKE  and  LUCAS.     (Oreek.)    Luminous. 

MADOC.    (Br.)    Gtood. 

MALICHI.     (Heb.)    My  messenger  or  angel 

MANOAH.     (Heb.)    Rest,  or  a  gift. 

MARCELLUS.  (Lat.)  From  J/ar5,  the  god  of  war — ^martial, 
warlike. 

MARCUS  and  MARK.  (Lat.)  A  name  first  given  to  chil- 
dren bom  in  the  month  of  March.  Marcus  also  means 
polite,  shining. 

MARMADUKE.  (G-er.)  From  MermachUg,  which  in  old 
Saxon  signified  more  mighty. 

MARTIN.     (Lat.)    From  Martius,  Mars,  the  god  of  war. 

•MATTHEW.    (Heb.)    The  gift  of  God. 

MATTHIAS.     (Heb.)    The  gift  of  the  Lord. 

MAXIMILIAN.  A  name  devised  by  the  Emperor  Frederic 
the  Third,  who  composed  it  for  his  son  and  heir  from  the 


OF    CHRISTIAN    NAMES.  285 

names  of  the  two  Eomans  whom  he  most  admired,  Q.  Fah- 
ius  Maximus,  and  Scipio  uEmiHanus^  with  the  hope  that  his 
son  would  imitate  their  virtues. 

MICHAEL.     (Heb.)    Who  is  like  God?    One  of  the  names 
of  Christ. 

MILES.     (Lat.)     Milo,  from  Milium,  a  kind  of  grain  called 
millet.     Some  think  it  to  be  a  contraction  of  Michael. 

MORDECAI.     (Heb.)    Bitter  contrition. 

MORG-AIT.     (Br.)    A  seaman,  from  mor,  the  sea;  like  the 
Latin,  Pelagius,  Marius. 

MORICE.    From  the  Latin,  Mauritius,  and  that  from  Maurus, 
a  moor. 

MOSES.     (Heb.)    Drawn  forth. 


NAOMI.     (Heb.)    Beautiful,  comely. 
NATHAN.     (Heb.)    O-ivon. 
NATHANIEL.    (Heb.)    The  gift  of  God. 

NEAL.      (Fr.)     From  the  Latin  nigeUus  or  ni^el,  black  or 

swarthy. 

NERO.     (Lat.)     Strong. 

NICHOLAS.     (G-reek.)     Victorious,  from  vixdco,  to  conquer. 

NIGrELi     From  the  Latin  NigeUus,  black,  swarthy. 

NOAH.     (Heb.)     A  ceasing  or  rest 

NOEL.  (Fr.)  The  same  as  the  Latin  natalis,  given  first  in 
honor  of  the  feast  of  Christ's  birth  to  such  as  were  born  on 
Christmas  day. 

NORMAN.  From  Normandy,  so  called  from  the  Northmen 
who  settled  there  from  the  north  of  Europe. 


286.  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

OBADIAH.    (Heb.)    Servant  of  the  Lord. 

OLIVER.    From  the  Latin  Oliva^  an  olive-tree,  an  emblem  of 
peace. 

OSBBRK     (Sax.)    House-child. 

OSBERT.     (Sax.)     Domestic  brightness. 

OSMUND.     (Sax.)    House-peace. 

OSWOLD.     (Sax.)    House-ruler  or  steward. 

OTHO.     A  faithful  reconciler,  according  to  Petrus  Blesensis. 

OWEN.    (Celtic.)    The  good  offspring. 

PASCAL.     From  Pascha,  the  passover. 

PATRICK.     (Latin.)    From  Pairicius,  a  peer,  a  noble,  a  name 
given  first  to  senators'  sons. 

PAUL.     (Lat.)    From  paulus,  little,  humble,  small  in  stature. 

PAYNE.    From  the  Latin  Paganm,  now  out  of  use,  meaning 
a  man  exempt  from  military  service. 

PEL  ATIAH.     (Heb.)     Deliverance  or  flight  of  the  Lord. 

PERCIVAL.     (Nor.)    From  Percheval,  a  place  in  Normandy. 

PEREGRINE.     (Lat.)    A  stranger,  a  foreigner. 

PETER.     (Q-reek.)     From  Trerpog,  a  stone  or  rock. 

PHILEBERT.     (Qer.)    Much  bright  fame,  very  famous. 

PHILEMON.     (G-reek.)    f^av/iuv.    A  kiss  or  loving. 

PHILIP.     (Greek.)    From  ^i^og,  a  lover  or  Mend,  and  ImroCj 
a  horse — a  lover  of  horses. 

PHILETUS.     (Greek.)     $a^r5f.    Beloved  or  amiable. 

PHINEAS.     (Heb.)    Face  of  trust  or  protection. 

PIUS.     (Lat.)    Pious. 

POMPEY.     (Lat.)    Poinpostw,  full  of  pomp. 


OF   OHBISTIAN   »AMES.  28^ 

QTJINTIN".     (Lat.)    From  quintuSj  the  fifth,  a  name  given  ta 
he  fifth  bom. 


EALPH.  (Sax.)  Contracted  fi:om  Rodolph  or  Rodolphus,  fi:oni 
Bode,  counsel,  and  ulph,  help. 

RANDAL.  (Sax.)  Corrupted  fi*om  Randulph,  fi-om  rein,  pure, 
and  ulphj  help.  p 

RANDOLPH.    The  same  as  Ranulf  or  Randal 

RAPHAEL.     (Heb.)     The  healing  of  God. 

REUBEN.    (Heb.)     The  son  of  vision. 

REUEL.     (Heb.)    Shepherd  or  fi:iend  of  God. 

REYNOLD.  (Sax.)  Sincere  or  pure  love,  firom  rein,  pure,  and 
hold,  love. 

RICHARD.  (Sax.)  Prom  nc,  rich,  wid  ard,  nature  or  dispo- 
sition— of  a  hberal  disposition. 

ROBERT.  (Sax.)  Famous  in  counsel,  fi-om  Rode,  counsel, 
and  heorht,  bright. 

ROBIN.    Same  as  Robert. 

RODERICK.  (Sax.)  Rich  in  counsel,  fi:om  Bode,  counsel,  and 
ric,  rich. 

ROGER.     (Ger.)    Quiet,  desirous  of  rest. 

ROLAND.     (Ger.)    Counsel  for  the  land. 

RUFUS.     (Nor.  Fr.)    Red. 

RUPERT.    Probably  the  same  as  Robert. 


SALATHIEL.     (Heb.)    I  besought  God. 
SALMON.     (Heb.)    Peaceable. 
SAMSON.    (Heb.)    His  sun  or  his  ministry. 
SAMUEL.    (Heb.)    Heard  of  God,  a  prophet. 
SAUL.     (Heb.)    Asked  or  lent  of  the  Lord;  also  a  grave. 
SEBASTIAN.     (Greek.)    From  ^e(3acTbc,  reverend  or 
tical,  the  same  as  the  Latin  Augustus. 


288  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

SETH.     (Heb.)     Set  as  a  foundation. 

SIGISMUND.  (Sax.)  From  sige,  victory,  and  mund^  peace, 
one  who  procures  peace  yet  so  as  by  victory.  Verstegan 
and  Junius  derive  it  from  the  Teutonic  Siege,  victory,  and 
mund,  mouth,  one  who  conquers  by  good  words :  so  Sig- 
helm,  victorious  defense ;  Sigebert,  victorious  fame. 

SIMEON.     (HeB.)     Hearing,  obeying. 

SIMOK    Same  as  Simeon, 

SOLOMOIsT.     (Heb.)    Peaceable,  perfect,  or  that  recompenses. 

STEPHEN.  (Greek.)  From  Sre^avof,  a  crown  or  garland; 
honor,  distinction. 

SWITHIK  (Sax.)  From  the  old  English  smtheahn,  very 
high,  like  the  Latin  Celsus. 

SYLVANUS,     (Lat.)    Wood-man,  or  rather  wood-aod. 

SYLYESTER.     (Lat.)    Woodman.''^ 

TERENCE.    Lat,  Termtius,  tender. 

TERTULLUS.    A  liar  or  impostor. 

THEOBALD.  (Sax.)  From  theod,  the  people,  and  bald,  bold, 
— ^bold  over  the  people ;  sometimes  corrupted  to  Tibald  of 
Thibald. 

THEODORE.  (Greek.)  From  Oebg,  Qrod,  and  i&pov,  a  gift— 
the  gift  of  Grod. 

THEODORIO.  (Sax.)  From  l%eod,  the  people,  and  ric,  rich 
— ^powerful  or  rich  in  people ;  contracted  to  Terry  with  the 
French,  and  Derick  and  Dkch  vsdth  the  Dutch. 

THEOPHILUS.      (Greek.)     From  Qebg,  God,  and  faog,   a 
'   lover  or  friend — a  lover  of  God. 

THOMAS.  (Heb.)  A  twin,  double,  called  in  Greek  M&u[iog^ 
of  two  hearts,  because  of  his  doubting. 


OF   CHRISTIAN   NAMES.  9^ 

TIMEUS.     (Grr.)    From  rtjulog,  perfect,  honorable,  admirable, 

TIMON.     (Gr.)     Honorable,  worthy,  from  Tifiuv. 

TIMOTHEUS.  (areek.)  An  honorer  of  God,  from  Tljucov, 
one  who  honors,  and  Qebg,  God. 

TIMOTHY.  (Greek.)  Same  as  Timotheus,  an  honorer  of 
God. 

TITUS.     (Lat.)     Honorable. 

TOBIAS  and  TOBIAH.     (Heb.)     The  goodness  of  God. 

TOBY.  A  corruption  of  Tobias".  It  is  also  the  Welsh  for 
Thomas. 

TEISTRAM.     (Lat.)     From  2^istus,  sad,  sorrowful 

UCHTRED.     (Sax.)    High  counsel. 
TJEBAK     (Lat.)     Civil,  courteous. 
URIAH.     (Heb.)     The  fire  of  the  Lord. 

YALENS.     (Lat.)    Puissant,  brave,  able. 
YALENTINE.     (Lat.)     The  same  as  Yalens. 
-VICTOR.     (Lat.)     A  conqueror. 
VINCENT.     (Lat.)     Victorious,  a  conqueror. 

WALTER.  (Sax.)  WaUher,  from  Wald,  a  wood,  and  heer,  a 
master — the  master  or  lord  of  the  wood,  like  the  Latin,  Syl- 
vanus,  or 


WIBERT.     (Sax.)     From   Wi,  holy,  and  hert,  bright— holy, 
and  bright  or  shining. 

WILDRED.     (Sax.)     Much  fear. 

WILFRED.     (Sax.)    Much  peace. 
13 


290  DICTIONARY  OF    CHRISTIAN    NAMES. 

WILLIAM.  (Gter.)  Wilhdm.  Some  derive  it  from  the  Bel- 
gic,  Cfuild-helm,  harnessed  with  a  gilded  hehnet,  and  others, 
with  more  probability,  from  WU-helmj  the  shield  or  defense 
of  many,  wel^  and  wil,  being  used  by  the  Germans  in  the 
sense  of  many  or  much,  as  in  Wildred  and  Wilfred  above ; 
Wilibert,  and  Wilwald. 

WIMUND.  (Sax.)  Sacred  peace,  or  holy  peace,  from  M, 
holy  or  sacred,  and  mund,  peace. 

WISCHARD.  (Nor.)  Wily,  crafty,  a  shifter.  Sometimes 
written,  Cfuiscard. 

WOLFERT.    A  corruption  of  Wulpher,  helper. 

WOLSTAN.     (Sax.)    Comely,  decent 

WTTLPHER.     (Sax.)    Helper. 


ZACHAR Y  and  ZACHARIAH.    (Heb.)    The  memory  of  the 
Lord. 

ZADOO.     (Heb.)    Just,  justified. 

ZERAH.     (Heb.)    East  or  brightness. 

ZOPHAR.    (Heb.)    Rising  early. 


J 


NAMES   OF  WOMEN". 


ABiaAIL.    (Heb.)    The  father's  joy. 

ADA.  (Sax.)  A  corruption  of  Eade,  an  old  Saxon  name,  fflg- 
nifying  happiness.    JSadith,  now  JEJdith,  and  7da,  are  from 

the  same.     (See  JEdith.) 

ADELAIDE.    (Sax.)    Noble,  from  Addiz,  the  same  as  Alice, 
ADELINE.     (Sax.)    Noble,  descending  from  nobles. 
AGATHA.     (Qreek.)     Gk>od,  from  'Ayddij, 
AGNES.     (Greek.)    Chaste,  from  Ayv^. 
ALETHEIA.     (Greek.)     Truth,  from  'AXedeia. 

ALICE.     (Sax.)    Abridged  from  Adeliz,  noble,  the  same  as 

Adeline  and  Adelaide. 
The  French  make  it  def&ndress^  by  turning  it  into  >dfem,  in 

their  language. 

AMY.     (Fr.)    Amie^  beloved,  from  the  Latin,  aTuata. 

ANASTASIA.  (Greek.)  Given  in  remembrance  of  Christ's 
glorious  resurrection,  and  ours  in  Christ,  from  avdardaig^  the 
act  of  rising  up — the  resurrection. 

AISTNE  and  ANNA.     (Heb.)     Gracious  or  merciftil. 

ANNETTE.     A  diminutive  of  Ann ;  Uttle  and  pretty  Ann. 

ANTOINETTE  and  ANTONIA.  Feminine  of  Antony  or 
Anthony,  from  the  Greek,  dvdoc,  a  flower. 

ARABELLA.     (Lat.)    A  fair  altar,  from  ara^  and  hdla. 


292  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

AUEELIA.  (Lat.)  Feminine  of  Aurelius,  golden — ^little 
golden  dame. 

AUKORA.  The  morning,  the  dawn;  as  if  ^^Aurea  hora^^  the 
golden  hour. 

BARBARA.  (Q-reek.)  Strange,  of  unknown  language,  a  bar- 
barian. 

BEATRICE.     (Latin.)     From  leatrix,  blessed,  happy. 

BERTHA.     (Sax.)    Bright  and  famous. 

BLANCHE.     (Fr.)     White  or  fair. 

BRIDGET,  (aaelic.)  Brighid,  "fiery  dart."  The  name  of 
the  muse  who  was  beheved  to  preside  over  poetry  in  pagan 
times,  in  Ireland.  Brighid,  m  the  Graelic,  also  signifies  a  hos- 
tage, a  pledge  of  security. 

CAROLIKE.  (Ger.)  The  feminine  of  Karl.,  or  Charles,  the 
manlike,  the  strong,  the  daring. 

CASSANDRA.     (Greek.)    Inflammg  men  with  love. 

CATHERINE.     (Greek.)     Pure,  chaste,  from  Yiadapbg. 

CECILIA.     (Latin.)     Grey-eyed. 

CHARLOTTE.     The  French  feminine  of  Charles. 

CHLOE.  (Greek.)  The  verdant,  springing,  blooming;  an 
epithet  of  Ceres,  the  goddess  of  husbandry,  from  Chloe^ 
springing  grass  or  corn. 

CHRISTINE.     Feminine  of  Christian. 

CLARA.  (Lat.)  Clear,  bright,  renowned,  illustrious — the 
feminine  of  Clarence, 

CLAUDIA  and  CLAUDINE.    (Latin.)    Feminine  of  Claudius. 

CLEMENTINE.  (Lat)  Feminine  of  Clement,  kind,  gentle, 
merciful,  from  Clemens, 


i 


OF    CHRISTIAN    NAMES.  203 

CONSTANCE.     (Lat.)     Constant,  firm,  unyielding. 

CYNTHIA.  (Gr.)  An  epithet  of  Diana.  Apollo  was  called 
Cynthius,  and  Diana  Cynthia^  from  CynthuSj  a  mountain  in 
the  island  of  Delos,  in  which  they  were  bom.  She  was 
called  also  Delia,  from  the  name  of  the  island. 

DEBORAH.     (Heb.)    A  bee. 

DELIA.  (Lat.)  A  name  given  to  the  goddess  Diana  fi:om 
being  born  on  the  island  of  Delos  (manifest,  conspicuous),  so 
called  because  having  previously  been  hidden  under  water, 
it  was  brought  to  the  surface  and  made  manifest,  in  order 
that  ApoUo  and  Diana  might  be  born  upon  it. 

DIANA.  (G-reek.)  Jove's  daughter,  from  Awf,  the  genitive 
of  Zet)f,  Jove, — ^the  ancient  name  of  the  moon  or  the  moon- 
goddess.  She  was  called  also  Delia,  Phoebe,  and  Cynthia. 
Some  have  derived  it  from  Dianus,  Janus,  fem.,  Diana,  a 
Roman  god  with  two  faces,  symbohzing  the  sun  and  moon. 

DIDO.     A  Phoenician  name  signifying  a  manlike  woman. 

DORCAS.  (Greek.)  A  doe,  a  roe-buck.  Lucretius  says  that 
by  that  name  amorous  knights  were  wont  to  call  freckled, 
warty,  and  wooden-faced  wenches. 

EDITH.  (Sax.)  From  Eadith  or  Fade,  an  old  Saxon  name 
signifying  happiness  or  blessed,  from  Eadig,  happy,  blessed, 
honorable.     It  has  been  corrupted  to  Ada  and  Ida. 

ELEANOR.  The  same  as  Ellen  or  Helen,  pitiful,  compas- 
sionate. 

ELIZA.     A  contraction  of  Elizabeth. 

ELIZABETH.     (Heb.)     The  oath  of  God,  or  God  hath  sworn. 

ELSIE.    A  corruption  of  AUce. 


294  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

EMMA.  (G-er.)  From  Amme,  a  nurse,  one  who  nurses,  cares 
for,  and  watches  over  another,  tender,  affectionate,  the  same 
as  Eutrophine^  among  the  Greeks.  Emma,  daughter  of 
Eichard,  the  first  Duke  of  Normandy,  was  called  in  Saxon 
Blgiva,  help-giver.  It  was  sometimes  written  Imma,  the 
name  of  the  daughter  of  Charlemagne.  Some  have  derived 
it  from  imme,  a  bee,  busy,  industrious. 

EMMELINE.    A  diminutive  of  Emma,  Httle  Emma. 

EMILY.     The  same  as  Emmehne. 

ESTHER.     (Heb.)     Secret  or  hidden. 

ETHEL.     (Sax.)    Noble. 

EUGENIA.  The  feminine  of  Eugene,  which  is  from  the  Greek 
kvyev^g,  nobly  born. 

EYE  and  EYA.     (Heb.)     Life-giving. 

FANNY.     A  corruption  of  Frances. 

FELICIA.     The  feminine  of  Felix  (Lat.),  happy,  fortunate. 

FLORENCE.     (Lat.)     Flourishing,  prosperous,  from  Florens. 

FRANCES.  The  feminine  of  Francis,  from  Frank,  free,  not 
servile  or  bond. 

GEORGINA  and  GEORGIANA.  Feminine  of  George,  which 
see. 

GERTRUDE.     (Ger.)     AU  truth,  amiable. 

GILLIAN.  A  corruption  of  Julian,  feminine  of  Julius,  Greek, 
soffc-haired. 

GOODITH  and  GOODY.  Contracted  from  Good-wife.  King 
Henry  the  First  was  nicknamed  Goodith,  in  contempt. 

GRACE.     The  signification  of  this  name  is  weU  known. 

GRISHILD.    Gray  lady. 


OF   CHRISTIAN   NAMES.  2^ 

HAaAR.     (Heb.)     A  stranger. 

HANNAH.     (Heb.)     Gracious,  merciful. 

HARRIET.  The  feminine  of  Harry  or  Henry;  the  same  as 
Henrietta.     See  Henry. 

HELEN.  (Greek.)  Pitiful,  compassionate.  Ellen  is  a  differ- 
ent form  of  the  same  name.  It  is  often  contracted  to  Nelly 
and  Nell. 

HENRIETTA.  The  feminine  of  Henry,  which  is  derived  from 
the  German  Mnrich,  ever  rich. 

HONORA.     (Lat.)     Honorable,  graceful,  handsome. 

HULDAH.     (Heb.)    The  world. 


IDA.  The  same  as  Ada  and  Edith.  From  JEade,  or  Eadith, 
Saxon,  happy,  blessed. 

lONE.     (Greek.)     From  the  island  Ionia. 

ISABEL.  (Spanish.)  The  same  as  EHzabeth  with  the  Span- 
ish, as  they  always  translate  Elizabeth  into  Isabel.  It  is 
also  said  to  signify  olive-complexioned  or  brown. 


JANE.     Anciently  Joane,  the  feminine  of  John,  gracious. 

JANET.     A  diminutive  of  Jane,  little  and  pretty  Jane. 

JEMIMA.     (Heb.)     Handsome  as  the  day. 

JOSEPHINE.     (Heb.)     The  femmine  of  Joseph,  which  signi- 
fies increase,  addition. 

JUDITH.     (Heb.)     Praising,  confessing. 

JULIA   and  JULIANA.     (Lat.)      The   feminine    of  Jidius, 
Greek,  soft-haired. 


296  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY 

KATHAEINE.     (areek.)    Pure,  virtuous,  jfrom  Kaddpog. 
KATHLEEK    (Celtic.)    Little  darHng. 

LAUEA.  (Lat.)  Bay  or  laurel,  crowned  with  laurel,  from 
Taurus;  corresponding  to  the  Q-reek  name  Daphne.  The 
feminine  of  Lawrence. 

--LETITIA.     (Lat.)    Erbm  IcBtitia,  joyfulness,  mirth. 

LETTICE.    A  corruption  of  Letitia. 

LETTY.    A  corruption  of  Lettice  and  Letitia. 

LOUISA.     The  feminine  of  Louis  or  Lewis.     (See  Lewis.) 

LUCRETIA.  (Lat.)  The  feminine  of  Lucretius,  from  ?wcrww, 
gain,  a  name  proper  for  a  good  housewife. 

LUCY.  (Lat.)  Erom  lux^  light,  hghtsome,  bright,  a  name 
given  first  to  children  that  were  born  when  daylight  first 
appeared. 

LYDIA.  (Greek.)  Erom  Lydm,  in  Asia,  because  bom  in  tiiat 
region. 

MABEL.  Erom  the  French  ma  heUe,  my  fair  maid.  Camden 
thinks  it  a  contraction  of  the  Latin,  amahilis,  lovely,  amiable, 
as  it  used  to  be  written  in  old  deeds,  Amabilia,  and  Mabilia. 

MADELINE.     The  same  as  Adeline  (which  see). 

MAQDALEK     (Heb.)     MajesticC 

MARaARET  and  MARGERY.  (Greek.)  From  Ma/jyaptref,  a 
pearl,  precious. 

MARIA  and  MARIAN".     The  same  as  Mary,  exalted. 

MARTHA.     (Heb.)    Bitter. 

MARY-  (Heb.)  Exalted.  It  is  a  famous  name  in  both  sacred 
and  profane  history  j  in  all  ages  it  has  literally  been  exalted. 


OF   CHRISTIAN   NAlifES*  UfWf 

Some  derive  the  name  from  maria,  bitter,  a  drop  of  salt 
water,  a  tear. 

MATILDA.    (Ger.)    A  noble  or  honorable  lady.     (See  Maud.) 

MAUD.  A  corruption  of  Matilde  or  Matilda.  From  the  Ger- 
man Matildis  or  Mathildis,  Latin,  Matilda,  noble  or  honor- 
able lady. 

MELICENT  and  MELICENT.    (French.)    Honey-sweet 

MIRIAM.    (Heb.)    Bitterness  of  ajBQiction,  exalted,  bitterness 
of  tiie  sea. 


NAiTOT.    A  corruption  of  Ann. 

NANETTE  and  NEsTON.    (BV.)    Nan,  Nancy,  same  as  Aim, 
httle  Ann. 

NIOIA.    (Greek.)    Victorious,  from  viktj,  a  victory,  a  triumph. 


OLIVIA  and  OLIVE.     (Lat)    The  feminine  of  Oliver.    From 
the  Latin  Oliva,  the  ohve  tree,  an  emblem  of  peace.  • 

OLTMPIA.     (Greek.)    Heavenly,  from  'OAvytzTrof,  heaven. 


PAULINE.  The  feminine  of  Paul,  from  the  Latin,  Paukut, 
httle,  small  in  stature. 

PENELOPE.  (Greek.)  The  name  of  a  kind  of  bird,  with  a 
purple  neck.  The  name  of  the  most  patient,  true,  constant^ 
and  chaste  wife  of  Ulysses,  given  to  her  because  she  care- 
fully loved  and  fed  those  birds. 

PERNEL.     (Fr.)     From  Fetronilla,  pretty  stone. 

PHCEBE.     (Greek.)     The  feminine  ofPhcebus,  from  the  Greek 
(l)olf3ocj  light,  splendid,  radiant,  a  name  of  Diana.     Phoebus, 
denoting  Apollo,  or  the  sun;  Phoebe,  Diana,  or  the  moon. 
13* 


298  ETYMOLOGICAL   DICTIONARY  ^  /| 

PHILIPPA.     (Greek.)    Feminme  of  PhiHp  (which  se^^/)      ''^'^^^ 

PHILLIS.     (Greek.)    Lovely,  dear,  cherished  from  ^ihj. 

POLYXENA.  (Greek.)  One  that  will  entertain  many  guests 
and  strangers,  from  ttoAAo^,  many,  and  ^evol,  strangers, 
guests. 

PEISOA.     (Lat.)     Ancient. 

PEISCILLA.  (Lat.)  A  diminutive  from  Prisca, — little,  ancient 
dame. 

PRUDENCE.  (Lat.)  Prudentia,  wisdom,  corresponding  to 
the  Greek  name,  Sophia. 


RACHEL.    (Heb.)    A  sheep. 

REBECCA.    (Heb.)-  Eat  and  frill 

REGIN'A.    (Lat.)    The  queen,  queen-like. 

RHODA.     (Greek.)    A  rose,  from  l>66ov. 

ROSALTA.    (Lat)    From  Rosa,  fair  as  a  rose. 

ROSALIND.     The  same  as  Rosalia,  from  jRosa,  a  rose. 

ROSAMUND.  Rose  of  the  world,  from  rosa,  and  mwndi;  or 
from  rosa,  Latin,  and  mund,  Saxon,  a  mouth,  from  her  roay- 
colored  lips ;  a  name  made  famous  by  Fair  Rosamund,  mis- 
tress of  Henry  the  Second. 

ROSE.     (Lat.)     From  that  fair  flower,  like  a  rose. 

ROWENA.  (Sax.)  From  Rouw,  Dutch,  peace,  and  rinnaUy 
Saxon,  to  acquire.  The  name  of  the  beautiful  daughter  of 
Hengist,  a  renowned  leader  of  the  Saxons,  "  who,  having 
the  Isle  of  Thanet  given  him  by  King  Yortigern  for  assisting 
him  against  the  Picts  and  Scots,  obtained  as  much  ground 
as  he  could  encompass  with  an  ox-hide,  on  which  to  build 
a  castle,  which  being  finished,  he  invited  King  Vortigern  to 
a  supper.    After  supper  Hengist  calls  for  his  daughter  Row- 


OF   CHRISTIAN   NAMES.  299 

ena,  who,  richly  attired,  enters  the  room  with  a  graceful 
mien,  with  a  golden  bowl  full  of  wine  in  her  hand,  and 
drinks  to  King  Vortigern  in  the  Saxon  language,  saying, 
'Be  of  health,  lord,  king,'  to  which  he  replied,  'Drink 
health,'  which,  I  think,  is  the  first  health  we  find  in  history, 
and  claims  the  antiquity  of  about  1400  years.  Yortigem, 
enamored  with  her  beauty,  married  her,  and  gave  her  and 
her  father  all  Kent." 

ETJTR    (Heb.)     Satisfied. 


SABINA.     (Lat.)    As  chaste  and  religious  as  a  Sabine,  a  peo- 
ple who  had  their  name  from  their  worshiping  of  Grod. 

SAEAH.     (Heb.)     Lady,  mistress,  or  dame. 

SOPHIA.     (Greek.)     Wisdom,  from  ccxjtia. 

SOPHRONIA.     (Greek.)     Modest  and  temperate;  prudent, 
from  ao^poavv^,  modesty,  chastity. 

SYBIL.     G-od's  counsel;  others  derive  it  firom  the  Hebrew, 
signifying  divine  doctrine. 

STLYIA.     (Lat)     From  Sylva,  a  forest — ^belongmg  to  the 
forest. 


TABITHA.    (Heb.)    Roe-buck. 

THEODORA.     The  feminine  of  Theodore,  Greek,  the  gift  of 
God. 

THEODOSIA.    The  same  as  Theodora,  the  gift  of  God. 


URANIA.     (Greek.)    Heavenly,  from  Ovpavdc,  heavenly. 

URSULA.  (Lat.)  A  Httle  bear.  The  name  of  the  virgin 
saint  of  Britain,  martyred  under  Q^d's  scourge,  AttUa,  king 
of  the  Huns. 


800  DICTIONARY   OP   CHRISTIAN   NAMES. 

VENTJS.  (Lat.)  Coming  to  all,  as  Cicero  derives  it,  from 
veniendo.  In  Greek,  Venus  was  called  Aphrodite,  some  say 
from  the  foam  of  the  sea  whence  she  sprung,  but  Euripides 
says  from  Aphrosune,  mad  folly. 

VIOLA.     (Lat,)     Vwh,  a  violet,  pretty  and  modest. 

VIRGrlNIA.     (Lat.)    Virgin-like,  chaste,  maidenly. 


WILHELMmA.    (Ger.)    The  feminine  of  Wilhebn  or  Wil- 
Ham.     (SeeWUham.)    S^^-^*^^  <V   ^\3>^<*n,  -  .v- 

WINIFBED.     (Sax.)    From  Win,  and  fred,  get  peace. 


THE  END. 


Books  Puhlislied  hy  Sheldont  Blakeman  Sf  Co. 

COMMENTAKIES  ON   THE  NEW  TESTAMENT, 
BY    REY.    AUGUSTUS    NEANDER,    D.D. 

Translated  from  the  German  by 
MKS.     H.     C.     C0NAI4T. 
THE  FIRST  EPISTLE  OF  JOHN.     Practically  explained  by  Dr.  A> 
GtrsTUB  Nbandeb.    Translated  from  the  Germa^  by  Mrs.  IT.  C.  Conant.     12mo. 
819  pp.    Price  85  cents. 

THE    EPISTLE    OF    PAUL    TO    THE    PHILIPPIANS,   and    THE 
EPISTLE  OF  JAMES.    In  one  vol.  12mo,  cloth.    Price  85  cts. 

THE  SCRIPTURAL  EXPOSITIONS  of  Dr.  Neandeh,  complete.    Coin- 
prising  the  above  books,  bound  in  one  volume.    Price  $1  75. 

Of  these  books  the  Eev.  Francis  Wayland  wrote: 

"•Neander  was  learned  in  philosophy,  and  in  the  history  of  the  Church,  beyond  any 
man  of  his  age,  perhaps  of  any  age.  Take  up  now  his  Commentary  on  John's  First 
Epistle — the  best  of  his  works  of  this  character  with  which  I  am  acquainted.  The  excel- 
lence of  this  exposition  is  not  at  all  owing  to  his  marvellous  learning,  but  to  the  childlike 
and  loving  temper  which  places  him  in  so  delightful  harmony  of  spirit  with  the  beloved 
A-postle." 

From  the  Hariford  Religimis  Herald,  March  6, 185C. 

"Neander  is  best  known  to  our  readers  as  the  Historian  of  the  Church,  and  his  Eccle- 
sia.stical  History,  brought  down  to  the  period  of  the  Reformation,  has  secured  for  him  the 
reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most  profound  scholars  and  thinkers  of  the  age.  The 
evangelical  Strauss,  his  friend  and  colleague,  says  of  him  in  his  funeral  discourse:  'lie 
did  not  despise  human  knowledge ;  he  sought  for  it  with  unwearied  diligence ;  he  was  a 
master  in  it ;  but  he  laid  all  his  surprising  treasures  of  his  learning  at  the  foot  of  the 
cross.' 

"  While,  however,  Neander  was  an  historian,  he  excelled  also  as  an  Expounder  of  the 
Bible  ;  and  we  have,  as  his  dying  legacy  to  the  people  of  God,  his  exposition  of  the  Epistle 
of  Paul  to  the  Philippians;  the  General  Epistle  of  James;  and  the  First  Epistle  General 
of  John.  These  expositions  are  not — as  German  Expositions  usually  are — works  of  learned 
criticism  merely,  but  are  popular  practical  Commentaries  on  Divine  truth,  rich  in  the 
results  of  study,  and  glowing  with  the  hght  and  warmth  of  a  deep  personal  experience  of 
the  gospel.  Neander,  -with  all  his  accumulated  stores  of  learning,  sat  as  a  docile  pupil 
at  the  feet  of  Christ,  and  his  Christian  humility  was  beautifully  illustrated  in  the  fact, 
that  when  applied  to  for  his  autograph,  to  be  placed  under  his  engraved  portrait,  he  gave 
it,  and  appended  thereto  the  words  :  'Now  we  see  through  a  glass  darkly,  but  then  face 
to  face.' " 

"This  work  is  exactly  what  it  professes  to  be,  not  learned  criticism,  but  a  practical 
explanation  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Philippians.  It  comprises  two  popular  lectures,  which 
will  not  fail  to  interest  any  intelligent  Christian  who  will  read  them  with  care.  Clergy- 
men will  find  this  work  eminently  suggestive  of  new  trains  of  thought  which  may  he 
profitably  used  in  the  sacred  task." — Literary  Advertiser. 

"The  friends  of  religious  truth  will  be  glad  to  see  this  Commentary  on  the  Epistle  of 
James,  following  so  soon  on  the  Philippians.  Perhaps  no  book  of  the  New  Testament  has 
been  more  misunderstood  than  this  Epistle,  on  account  of  a  supposod  contrariety  between 
its  teachings  and  the  '  doctrines  of  grace.'  A  more  comprehensive  aad  philosophical 
exegesis,  however,  sees  in  the  Epistles  of  James  and  Paul  only  the  same  system  of  truth 
set  forth  from  different  points  of  view.  The  work  of  Neander  is  a  most  valuable  assist- 
ance in  the  elucidation  of  this  epistle.  By  looking  at  it  from  his  own  eminently  historical 
point  of  view,  we  are  able  to  see,  at  a  glance,  how  it  falls  beautifully  into  its  place  in  the 
system  of  Christ,  confirming  rather  than  weakening  the  great  doctrines,  the  inculcation 
of  which  the  Holy  Ghost  seems  to  have  intrusted  to  Paul.  The  translation  is  clear  and 
idiomatic,  and  almost  entirely  free  from  the  abstract  and  cumbrous  phraseology  that  too 
often  marks  translations  from  the  German.  No  clergyman  or  Sunday-School  te.- uer  can 
fail  to  feel  his  mind  invigorated  and  his  heart  enlarged  by  the  study  of  this  work." — Ifew 
YorJc  Jiecorder. 

"  Mrs.  Conant  has  devoted  her  accomplished  skill  as  a  translator,  to  a  good  purpose,  in 
rendering  Into  English  this  charming  production  of  Neander.  This  small  volume  suc- 
ceeds n  similar  one  on  the  Epistle  to  the  Philippians,  and  is  itself  to  be  followed  by  ano- 
ther on  the  First  Epistle  to  Jolm— a  work  published  since  the  Author"?  death.  We  cannot 
doubt  that  these  volumes  will  1>e  desired  by  ministers  generally,  and  we  commend  them 
to  all  thonghtful  students  of  the  Bible.'"—  Watchman  and  B^«U,r. 


Books  Fuhlished  by  Sheldon,  Blakeman  ^  Co. 

THE  ALMOST  CHRISTIAN.    By  Rev.  Matthew  Mead.  With  an  intro- 
duction by  W.  B.  Williams,  B.D.     18mo.    Price  45  cents. 

"Mr.  Mead  was  contemporary  with  those  great  lights  of  the  Chnrch,  Owen,  Bnnyan 

and  Baxter.   But  his  works  had  the  special  commendation  of  Eichard  Baxter,  who  advised 

.  such  as  wished  to  place  the  host  religious  books  in  their  libraries,  to  obtain  as  many  of 

Ml.  Mead's  as  they  could  ?et.    It  is  full  of  thought,  ingenious  in  argument,  discriminating, 

and  highly  evangelical." 

"  We  hail  this  comely  reprint  with  increased  gladness,  the  more  especially  as  it  is  rery 
appropriate  to  the  times,  there  being  roa?on  to  fear  that  very  many  have  a  name  to  live 
while  they  are  dead.  For  searching  fidelity  it  ranks  with  the  experimental  treatises  of 
Baxter  and  Owen.'" — C'lristian  Mirror. 

THE  LIFE,   CHARACTER,   AND  ACTS  OF  JOHN  THE  BAPTIST, 

aE(d  the  relation  of  his  Ministry  to  the  Christian  dispensation,  based  upon  the  Johannes 
der  Taufer,  of  L.  von  Rouden,  by  the  Rev.  Wm.  C.  Duncan,  M.  A. ,  Professor  of  the  Greek 
aad  Latin  I.anguagos  and  Literature  in  Louisiana  University.  1  vol.  12mo.  2G1  pages. 
Frice  75  cents. 

"  The  work  as  we  liave  it  in  this  volume,  and  so  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  examine  it, 
is  thorough,  learned  and  decidedly  able." — Puritan  Reoarder. 

"  It  is  the  only  complpfe  work  on  this  subject  in  English,  and  we  need  no  other;  we  hope 
no  one  will  fail  to  procure  the  work." — N.  T.  Chronicle. 

"This  is  an  acceptable  addition  to  religious  literature — indeed  the  only  work  in  the  lan- 
guage exclusively  devoted  to  the  life  and  ministry  of  the  Baptist.  It  is  based  upon  von 
Robden's  German  treatise,  which  Neander  so  warmly  commends;  and,  indeed,  the  whole 
of  von  Robden's  work  is  comprised  in  this  volume,  but  with  very  considerable  additions  of 
original  matter,  which  give  it  increased  value  to  the  biblical  student,  and  also  better 
adapt  it  to  the  wants  of  the  general  reader." 

MEMOIR  OF  S.  B.  JUDSON.    By  Mrs.  E.  C.  Jddson.    Forty  thousand 

sold.     1vol.  18mo.  300  pages.  Qoth  60  cents.  Cloth,  gilt  edge,  $1. 

"  Rarely  have  we  read  a  more  beautiful  sketch  of  female  loveliness,  devoted  piety,  mis- 
sionary zeal,  fortitude,  sacrifice  and  success,  than  is  here  drawn  by  a  pen  that  is  well  known 
to  the  reading  world.  We  trust  its  wide  perusal  will  awaken  the  mission  spirit  in  the  hearts 
of  thousands." — New  York  Observer. 

*< '  Beautiful  exceedingly,'  is  this  portraiture  of  female  loveliness,  piety  and  heroism,  drawn 
by  the  graceful  pencil,  and  embellished  by  the  delicate  hues  of  the  fair  author's  poetic  fancy. 
All  who  are  acquainted  with  the  eventful  life  of  that  heroine  of  missionaries,  Ann  Hassel- 
tine  Judson,  will  be  doubly  interested  in  this  memoir  of  one  whose  gentleness,  patient  endu- 
rance of  suffering,  and  cultivated  tastes,  renderered  her  no  unworthy  successor,  either  in 
domestic  seclusion,  or  on  the  field  of  action,  of  that  energetic  martyr  in  the  missionary 
ca.ise." — Newark  Advertiser. 

"  We  commend  this  book  as  the  portraiture  of  a  very  lovely,  accomplished,  and  Christian 
woman." — Christian  Register. 

"In  preparing  this  work,  the  gifted  authoress  found  a  theme  worthy  of  her  classic  pen, 
and  thousands  will  rejoice  in  the  addition  she  has  given  to  religious  literature,  and  to  mis- 
sionary biography.  We  shall  be  very  much  mistaken  If  this  beautiful  volume  does  not  se- 
cure a  very  wide  and  extensive  circulation."— iVeu)  York  Baptist  Register. 

"  Like  all  the  other  writings  of  this  distinguished  author,  this  book  most  happily  com- 
bines interest  with  instruction.  It  cannot  be  read  without  adding  refinement  to  the  feelings 
and  making  the  heart  better  ;  and  if  commenced,  will  not  be  laid  aside  till  finished.'  — New 
York  Evening  Post. 
%  "  We  hail  this  '  Memoir'  with  much  pleasure,  and  tender  our  thanks  to  the  enterprising 
ubhshers  for  the  copy  sent  us.  It  is  a  memoir  of  a  very  interesting  personage,  written  in 
a  highly  fascinating  style,  by  a  poUshed  and  justly  distinguished  writer." — Christian  Index. 

"This  little  volume  is  full  of  religious  thought  and  experience,  and  is  so  judiciously  and 
tastefully  compiled  that  the  reader  cannot  fail  to  derive  both  pleasure  and  tenefit  from 
its  perusaL" — 27i«  Banner  and  Pioneer. 

"A  most  aamirable  little  book  it  is,  and  its  publication  is  a  valuable  addition  to  the  li«t 
•f  religious  memoirs."— iSoufftern  Presbyterian. 


Books  Puhlished  hy  Sheldon,  Blakeman  ^  Oo. 

' '  A  Mod  Absorbing  Book. ' ' 
MRS.  LINCOLN  PHELPS'  NEW  ROMANCE,  IDA  NORMAN  ;  or,  Trials 

and  Iheir  Uses,  is  one  of  ihe  most  popular  books  issued  this  season.     Published  m  cue 
volume,  12mo,  clolh,  beantirully  illustrated  in  tint.     Price,  $1  25. 

READ  WHAT  THE  CRITICS  SAY  OF  IT. 

"  It  is  a  work  of  thai  rare  aud  peculiar  kind,  of  which  there  has  always  been  too  few." — 
Osweffo  County  Gazette. 

"  It  is  a  work  that  will  be  read  everywhere,  and  by  everybody,  and  will  increase  in 
popularity  as  it  increases  in  age." — Albavy  Spectator. 

"A  work  of  no  ordinary  ability."— Boston  Transcript. 

"The  story  is  very  attractive,  and  will  be  read  with  absorbing  interest  " — Christian 
Ambassador, 

"Few  books  that  we  have  ever  seen  combine  m  an  equal  deprree  the  hij^hest  moral  and 
religious  sentiments  with  the  hiefhest  dramatic  interest.  Parents  who  rcji'Ct  the  mass  of 
books  as  too  light  for  theii  children  lo  read,  may  place  this  work  in  tJieir  hands  with 
safety." — New  York  Recorder. 

"  We  entered  upon  its  perusal  at  the  early  dawn  of  a  beautifnl  day.  We  vere  soon  lost 
to  every  thing«else  but  the  i^ioiy  of  Ida  Norman,  and  the  trials  and  vicissitudes  of  life,  as 
presented  in  the  chaste  but  forcible  style  of  the  author.  The  plot  of  the  romance  is  happily 
conceived,  the  counterplots  are  constantly  imparting  a  new  and  lively  interest  to  each 
succeeding  chapter  of  the  v.Mrk." — Bvffalo  Express. 

"  It  is  a  book  which  will  do  for  the  heart  of  every  pure  and  noble  girl  more  than  school 
books  or  school  teachers  ever  attempted.  It  will  no  where  be  received  with  the  shout  and 
tumult  which  greet  those  ep.'iemeral  and  heated  books  of  mystery  and  fashion,  but  it  will 
goto  ten  thousand  homes,  and  christen  ten  thousand  spirits,  like  all  the  sweet  and  blessed 
influences  thai  reform  and  refine  the  heart." — Daily  National  Democrat. 

GILFILLAN'S  NEW  WORK.    A  Third  Gallery  of  Portraits,  by  George 

Gilfillan.    One  volume,  12mo.     Cloth.     Price  $1  25. 


CONTENTS : 

A  Cluster  of  New  Poets. 
Sydxev  Yexdys, 
Alexander  Smith, 
J.  Sta.vyo.v  Bigg, 
Gerrald  Massey. 


Modern  Critics. 

HAZI-rtT  AND  Hallam, 
JbFFKEY   AND   COLERlDQE, 

Dklta, 

Thackeray, 

T  Babingtox  Macaulay. 


Miscellaneous  Sketches. 
Carlile  axd  Sterling, 


Neal  and  Buntan, 
Edgar  A.  Poe, 
Edmond  Bcrke,  , 

Sir  Edw,  Lytton  Bulwbb, 
Benjamin  Eisraeu. 
Prof.  Wilson, 
Henky  Rogers, 
^schylus,       promktheua 

Bound  and  Unbound, 
Shakspeare,  a  Lecture. 


File  of  French  Revolutionists. 
Mirabeau, 
Marat, 
Robespierre, 
Danton, 
Vergxiaud, 
Napoleon, 

ComtdlaC  n  of  Sacred  Authors. 

Edward  Irvlng, 

Isaac. Taylor, 

Robert  Hall, 

Dr.  Chalmers. 

"This  volume  is  really  one  of  surpassing  excellence." — Philadelphia  Saturday  Courier 

"  This  volume  is  all  alive  and  flashing  with  poetic  spirit,  al  limes  challenging  criticism, 
•nd  again  extorting  swift  admiration  " — Evening  Mirror. 

"  He  has  imbued  them  all  with  his  own  superabundent  vitality  ;  we  never  fall  asleep 
while  we  watch  the  as  yot  undeveloped  likeness  leap  into  light  and  life  beneath  the  nrlist's 
Hand.  Gilfillan  is  a  passionate  and  rapid  writer  ;  his  quick  and  impetuous  thought  haa 
moulded  for  itself  an  uUerance  of  language  more  vigorous,  more  terse  and  emphatic, 
Jian  any  man  of  less  genius  would  be  able  to  handle  or  control.  His  words,  in  their  ac- 
tumulative  and  fiery  flow,  seam  to  feel  no  rein,  nor  lo  acknowledge  any  rider. 

"  If  our  readers  can  not  find  in  this  book  much  to  amuse,  lastruct,  and  better  them  ; 
much  to  make  them  smile,  and  much  to  arouse  that  noble  and  more  humane  emotion 
(vhose  symbol  is  a  tear,  then  we  can  only  recommend  them  to  look  out  for  such  books  a« 
Ihey  require  themselves — !br  we  can  find  no  recent  issue  of  the  American  press  which, 
for  so  many  reasons  and  so  strongly,  we  can  recommend." — United  Staies  Bemew. 

"  It  is  an  exceedingly  entertaining  book,  and  displays  varied  learning  and  scholarship 
united  with  rare  critical  acumen  and  a  lively  v'*w  of  satire."— iVetp  York  Day  B^oh.* 


Books  Published  by  Sheldon,  Blakeomin  Sf  Co. 


THE  WORKS  OF  HERMANN  OLSHAUSEN,  D.D. 


In  Pre$8t 

AlTD  8H0BTLT  TO  BS  PUBLISHED, 

COMMENTARIES  ON  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT, 

BT 

PKOF.  HEKMAlSriSr  OLSHAUSEN,  D.D., 

I.ATE  PX0FE8S0B  OS*  THXOLOOT  VX  THE  TTiayBBSnT  OT  EBLAKOKir. 


Th«re  hav«  appeared— 

Thx  Gobpbls,  Oobinthianb,  £phe8iaits, 

The  Acts,  Hkbbbws,  Colossians, 

EoMAiTs,  Galationb,  Thessaloniaki, 

Phiuppianb,  Trnjs,  Thiotht. 

These  Invaluable  commentaries  will  be  giren  to  the  public  at  short  Intervals,  oonv- 
menclng  ivith  the  Gospels,  which  will  be  ready  in  May,  1856. 

Perhaps  no  modem  commentator  has  been  received  with  more  confidence  and  affection 
by  the  pious  and  intelligent  student  of  the  Bible,  than  Olshausen,  while  in  America  the 
«xpensiveness  of  the  English  edition  has  been  the  only  reason  which  has  prevented  a 
very  large  class  from  enjoying  the  results  of  his  vast  researches  in  Biblical  criticism. 

The  present  edition  will  be  superior  to  all  others,  embodying  as  it  does  all  of  Eberhard'a 
Yalnsble  additions,  and  having  received  the  careful  revision  and  editorship  of 

THE  RET.  A.  C.  KENDRICK,  D.D., 

or  THB  urtlvJiBSITT  OF  XOOHXSTEB, 

Whose  fitness  for  this  Important  and  difficult  task  will  be  cordially  conceded  wherever 
Us  great  Biblical  attainments  and  his  proficiency  in  the  native  language  of  Olshavsen 
•re  knows. 


Books  Published  by  Sheldon,  Blakeman    '/  Co. 


A  NEW  SCHOOL   HISTORY. 

A    CHRONOLOGICAL    SCHOOL    HISTORY    OF    THE    UNITED 

STATES,  illustrated  by  painted  Plates  of  the  four  last  Centuries,  prepared  on  the  prin- 
ciple of  Bem's  Chaet  op  Univeesal  Histoey,  by  Miss  Elizabeth  P.  Peabody.  1  voL 
12mo.     Price 

The  publishers  would  invite  the  attention  of  all  wishing  to  commence  classes  in  the 
history  of  the  United  States,  to  the  following  flattering  commendation,  given  after  having 
read  the  work  in  manuscript,  by  Prof.  J.  H.  EATMOND,  LL.D.,  late  of  the  Univeesity 
OF  EocHESTER,  and  now  Principal  of  the  Polytechnic  School,  Brooklyn. 

"It  affords  me  peculiar  satisfaction  to  learn  that  Miss  Peabody  has  undertaken  to  pre- 
pare a  work  on  the  history  of  the  United  States  for  the  use  of  schools.  I  certainly  know 
of  none  who  combines  in  such  large  measure,  the  rare  talents  and  acquirements,  both 
natural  and  mora!,  which  such  an  undertaking  requires.  The  chronological  method  of 
Bern,  which  she  incorporates  in  her  plan,  I  have  long  regarded  as  OIJT  OF  SIGHT 
SUPEEIOE  to  any  other  scheme  of  Ohronological  MneinonicH  ever  invented.  I  think 
you  cannot  do  a  better  thing  for  schools— I  should  also  hope  for  yourselves — than  to  put 
it  in  type." 

The  venerable  Dr.  NOTT,  of  Union  College,  having  also  examined  the  manuscript, 
and  expressed  his  cordial  approbation  of  the  history,  adds, — "  The  plan  of  this  work  is 
calculated  to  excite  and  sustain  the  imagination,  not  merely  by  appealing  to  the  eye,  in 
impressing  its  chronology,  but  also  by  a  graphic  outline  ot  the  history  of  each  Colony, 
and  of  the  Federal  Union,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  preserve  their  respective  individuali- 
ties and  peculiar  spirit" 

We  are  also  prepared  to  furnish 

BEM'S  CHARTS  OF  UNIVERSAL  HISTORY,  with  tlie  Manual  pre- 
pared by  Miss  Peabody,  at  the  instigation  of  Dr.  Barnas  Sears,  late  Secretary  of  the 
Massachusetts  Board  of  Education,  and  now  President  of  Brown  University. 

And  we  have  in  our  possession,  manuscript  letters  in  testimony  of  its  value,  from 

Dr.  NOTT,  and  Professors  Newman  Hicock  and  Taylor  Lewis,  of  Union  College 
Prof.  Eaymont>,  late  of  the  Rochester  Universttij^  Professors  Andrews  and  Kingslet, 
of  Marietta  College,  Prof.  Gregory,  of  Detroit,  now  editdr  of  the  Michigan  Journal  of 
Education,  Rev.  Eban  S.  Stearns,  late  Principal  of  the  Norma!  School  at  West  Newton, 
Mass.,  Eev.  F.  A.  Adains,  of  Orange,  N.  J.,  Prof.  Burton,  then  of  Girard  College,  Mr. 
Alonzo  Crittenden,  of  Packer  Institute,  Brooklyn,  Dr.  Isaac  Ferris.  Chancellor  of  the 
University  of  New  York,  Dr.  J.  Eomayn  Beck,  late  of  Albany,  Dr.  W.  B.  Sprague,  of 
Albany,  and  many  others  who  have  used  it,  especially  ladies  of  the  first  class  of  teachers. 

HISTORICAL  &  CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLES  :  for  use  in  Elementary 
Instruction  in  HISTORY.  By  Dr.  Charles  Peter,  Director  of  the  Gymnasium  in 
Auckland.    Translated  from  the  German  (3d  Ed.). 

Prefatory  Note. 
It  would  be  difficult  to  compress  within  a  smaller  space  and  in  a  more  convenient  form, 
the  amount  of  historical  information  that  is  comprised  in  the  following  pages.  They  am 
prepared  by  a  distinguished  German  scholar,  who  has  great  experience  in  the  preparation 
of  larger  and  smaller  works  for  Schools  on  history.  This  little  manual  is  translated  in 
the  hope  and  belief  that  it  will  prove  extensively  useful  as  an  outline  and  rcsum6  of  his- 
torical facts  i'l  their  chronological  connections,  in  both  higher  and  lower  seminaries  of 
Instruction  in  Vmerlca,  and  also  an  excellent  companion  to  private  students  in  history. 

A.  C.  KENDKICK, 

University  of  Eochbstml 


Books  Puhlished  hy  Sheldon,  Blakeman  ^  Co, 

HOME  LIFE.  Twelve  brilliant  lectures  on  the  duties  and  relations  of 
the  family  circle.  Bj  Eev.  "Wm.  Hague,  D.D.  1  Tol.,  12mo.  $1 ;  gilt,  $1  25 ;  mor. 
gilt,  extra,  $2  25. 

The  following  is  the  table  cf  contents,  and  •will  indicate  the  character  and  ecopo  of  the 
iook: 

LECTURE  I.— The  Marriage  Institution. 

LECTUEE  II.— Duties  of  the  Husband. 

LECTURE  IIL— Duties  of  the  Wife. 

LECTURE  IV.— Duties  of  Parents  to  Children. 

LECTUEE  V. — Duties  of  Children  to  Parents. 

LECTURE  VI. — Duties  of  Brothers  and  Sisters. 

LECTURE  VII.— Mutual  Dutees  of  Householders  and  Servants. 

LECTUEE  VIII. — Duties  of  Pkincipals  to  Clerks  and  Apprentices. 

LECTUEE  IX.— Duties  of  Young  Men  to  their  Employees. 

LECTUEE  X.— The  Use  and  Abuse  of  Amusements. 

LECTUEE  XL— The  Familt  Library, 

LECTUEE  XIL— The  Self  Governed  Man. 
The  classical  elegance  and  simplicity  of  the  style,  and  the  warmth  and  naturalness  of 
the  eloquence  of  these  lectures,  justify  the  great  favor  with  which  they  were  received, 
and  mark  the  present  volume  as  a  valuable  and  popular  contribution  to  our  literature. 

"  The  times  demand  just  such  a  work  as  is  here  produced  for  the  family,  shedding  A 
hallowed  light  on  homo,  promoting  discipline,  inspiring  affection,  fostering  the  social 
virtues,  and  preparing  for  a  steady,  strong,  and  salutary  influence  in  all  the  varied  walks 
of  society.  Wo  think  of  no  man  better  qualified  for  the  great  and  responsible  task  than 
Dr.  Hague.  Could  it  be  introduced  into  every  family,  carefully  and  candidly  read,  and 
the  lessons  it  inculcates  diligently  heeded,  it  would  be  Avorth  more  than  any  inheritance 
of  silver  and  gold.  Parents  will  do  well  to  obtain  this  book,  and  place  it  on  the  parlor 
table  for  their  own  use  and  that  of  their  children." — Ohrisiian  Chivnicle. 

"  There  have  been  few  more  deeply  interesting  or  more  practically  useful  volumes 
.recently  issued.  The  lectures  are  beautifully  writt«-n.  Their  style  is  classically  terso 
and  lucid.  The  ideas  are  compactly  conveyed,  and  eveo-y  sentence  bears  the  impress  of 
the  Christian  scholar  and  teacher.  Many  of  our  readers  heard  them  delivered ;  they 
will  be  happy  to  peruse  them  at  their  leisure.  Those  who  were  not  thus  fortunate,  may 
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thing  palatable  and  healthy."— ^Z5a«.y  Journal. 

EGYPT,  ARABIA  PETR^A,  AND   THE  HOLY   LAND.    A  Journax 

of  Travels  in  Egypt,  Arabia  Petrsea,  and  the  Holy  I.and.  By  Davto  lIitLARD,  Professor 
of  Biblical  Antiquities  and  Sicred  Geography  in  the  Theological  School,  at  MeadviUe,  Pa. 
1  vol.    348  pp.;  embossed  binding.  8vo.  price  $2;  12mo.  price  $1. 

From  among  the  various  ht^erary  notices  taken  of  this  work  we  select  the  following  ;— 
"  Journal  of  Travels  in  Egitt,  Arabia  Fetr-'Ea  axd  the  Holy  Laxd,  by  David  Millard.— 
A  more  interesting  Avork  of  the  kind,  we  think,  lias  rarely  ever  been  brought  before  the 
public.  The  subject  treated  upon  recommends  itself,  and  those  who  wish  to  save  time  and 
gain  information  will  find  this  volume  a  valuable  s  mipanion.  A  general  fault  with  descrip- 
tive works  of  this  part  of  the  globe  is  the  size — so  numerous  are  the  thoughts  that  crowd  ou 
the  writer — here,  however,  we  find  the  whole  happily  condensed  within  reasonable  hmits. 
and  with  language  so  well  chosen  that  the  reader  may  intellectually  follow  the  guidance  of 
the  author.  The  writer  thinks,  and  we  agree  with  him,  '  that  no  volume  of  equal  dimen- 
sions can  be  found  to  contain  more  information  on  the  countries  of  which  it  treats  than 
this.'  We  have  no  personal  acquaintance  with  the  author,  and  know  not  his  religious  sen- 
timents, but  we  are  persuaded  tliat,  while  all  readers  will  find  something  in  the  book  that 
will  please  them,  no  Christian  will  find  that  with  whch  he  will  have  cause  to  be  displeased  " 
Religious  Bearrder. 

"  We  deem  this  volume  the  most  interesting  book  of  travels  relating  to  the  countries  of 
which  it  treats,  that  has  come  under  our  inspection.  Its  condensed  form,  and  concise  maii» 
ner,  together  with  the  ttalmess  of  its  matter,  render  it  a  raluaWe  work." — Monroe  EepMican 


Books  Published  by  Sheldon,  Blakeman  Sf  Co. 

The  Publishers  inyite  attentioii  to  the  following  recommendatioiis  «r 
MRS.     CONANT'S 

ENaLISH     BIBLE. 


FromtTieir&w  Yorh  EvangeUst. 

"Thb  story  I3  one  of  deepest  import,  involving  acts  of  heroism  and  daring,  notlesi 
than  of  scholarship  and  piety,  and  so  identified  with  the  history  of  freedom,  civilization 
and  literature,  as  to  partake  of  the  spirit  of  all  these  unspeakable  interests." 

From  the  Christian  Times,  Chicago. 
**It  is  full  of  matter;  its  style  is  graphic  and  pure,  its  spirit  excellent." 

From  the  Nenjo  York  Examiner. 

"  There  was  room  for  such  a  work  as  Mrs.  Conant  has  undertaken,  and  the  Yolnme 
she  has  given  us  will  be  generally  welcomed,  as  supplying  the  deficiency." 
"  The  work  is  one  we  should  be  glad  to  see  in  every  Christian  family." 

From  the  Louisville  Jowrnal. 

•'  The  work  Is  not  only  an  admirable  sketch  of  the  early  English  versions  and  revisions 
of  the  Bible,  but  a  most  skilful  and  forcible  presentation  of  the  very  essence  of  the 
religious  History  of  the  English  race.  Many  portions  are  executed  with  wonderful 
effect. 

"The  Chapter  on  the  Martyrdom  of  Frith,  is  among  the  most  thrilling  and  powerftll 
pieces  of  historical  painting  extant. 

*'  A  more  comprehensive  and  gratifvin?  rponrd  of  the  reliiriou?'  progress  of  the  An^o- 
Saxon  race,  has  never  before  been  given  or  attempted." 

From  the  New  York  Tribune. 
"In  closing  this  article,  for  the  materials  of  which  we  are  indebted  to  the  volume  before 
us,  we  must  not  omit  to  give  our  humble  tribute  to  the  learning,  historical  research, 
soundness  of  judgment,  and  masculine  energy  of  style,  which  characterize  its  composi- 
tion. The  claims  of  the  author  to  an  enviable  place  in  literature,  which  her  previous 
efforts  have  suggested,  are  unquestionably  made  good  in  the  composition  of  this 
volume." 

From  the  Cambridge  Chronicle. 

"  The  work  shows  on  almost  every  page,  the  evidence  of  learned  investigation,  and  thor* 
ough  research. 

"  The  style  is  firee  from  the  dry  and  harsh  characteristics  which  render  the  volumes  01 
Anderson,  Lewis,  and  other  writers,  so  repulsive  to  all  but  the  antiquary  and  the  pro- 
fessed student  of  liistory.  i 

"  Mrs.  Conant's  style  is  easy  and  elegant ;  she  seizes  the  strong  points  and  presents  them 
vividly  to  the  reaier.  "VT  3  can  do  no  better  service  to  our  friends  and  readers,  of  all 
Si'cta,  than  to  advise  them  to  purchase  this  volume," 


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SEKMONS 

OF  THB 

REV.    C.    HE.    SPCrjRGEOJS^, 

OF    LONDON. 

TTitA  a/n  Introduction  and  Sketch  o^  his  LifCy  ty  the  Bern.  E.  L.  Magoon,  DJ).    1  vol., 
12  mo,  86T  pages.    "With  a  finb  LrrHoaiiAPH  Pobtbait.    Price  $1. 

"THE  MOST  SUCCESSFUL  PREACHER  m  LONDOK" 

"THE  HENEY  WAED  BEEOHER  OF  ENGLAND." 

"  THE   MODERN   WHITFIELD." 

Such  are  some  of  the  terms  used  in  speaking  of  the  celebrated  clergyman,  author  of  the 
Sermons  in  this  volame. 

"  Never,  since  the  days  of  George  Whitfield  and  Edward  Irving,  has  any  minister  of 
religion  acquired  so  great  a  reputation  as  this  preacher  in  so  short  a  time.  There  is  no 
man  in  Great  Britain  who  can  draw  such  immense  audiences ;  and  none  who,  in  his  hap- 
pi3st  efforts,  can  so  completely  enthral  the  attention  and  delight  the  minds  of  his  hear- 
ers."— Correspondent  of  the  Independent. 

From  the  True  Union,  Baltimore. 

"  Barely  have  we  seen  a  more  clear  exhibition  of  the  way  of  Salvation  through  a  cruci- 
fied Redeemer — ^more  striking  figures  and  illustrations — more  home  appeals  to  the  heart 
and  conscience.  We  do  not  think  the  perusal  of  these  Sermons  can  fail  to  affect  favorably 
the  preaching  of  ministers  who  may  study  them," 

From  the  OhrijMa/n  Herald. 

"  That  these  Sermons  show  Mr.  Spurgeon  to  be  of  a  mind  of  manly  and  true  evangeli- 
cal tone,  as  well  as  of  lofty  and  most  eloquent  utterance,  we  have  only  to  read  them  to 
be  satisfied." 

From  the  Mew  lork  Sun. 

"With  a  boyish  countenance  and  a  figure  under  the  middle  size — owing  nothing  to  his 
personal  appearance,  the  ingenuity  of  critics  has  been  taxed,  to  solve  the  problem  of  his 
extraordinary  infiaence:  one  ascribes  it  to  the  rich  melody  and  perfect  modulation  of  his 
voice ;  another  to  his  rare  powers  of  observation  and  assimilation  -  or  to  his  knowledge 
of  nature,  and  his  attainments  in  literature  and  science ;  another  to  his  mastery  over  the 
graces  of  elocution.  He  himself  says:  'I  am  a  child,  having  little  education,  little  learn- 
ing, ability  or  talent.  Without  the  Spirit  of  Ood  I  feel  I  am  utterly  unable  to  speak 
to  you.'  " 

From  the  Christian  Times,  Chicago. 

"  These  Sermons  show  evidence  of  a  wonderful  power  of  illustration  and  appeal,  as  well 
as  a  clear  conception  and  profound  experience  of  evangelical  truth.  One  reads  them  with 
the  most  intense  interest,  and  readily  understands  with  what  power  they  must  have 
come  to  those  who  originally  heard  them,  with  the  accompaniments  of  the  voice  and 
manner  of  the  true  orator.  A  likeness  of  the  preacher  faces  the  title  page.  We  hope 
these  sermons  will  have  a  wide  circulation.  They  will,  assuredly,  and  we  cannot  but 
hope  that,  as  their  delivery  was  the  means  of  conversion  to  great  numbers,  so  their  peru- 
sal may  be  equally  blessed  to  numbers  more." 

From  the  Albany  State  Register. 
"It  certainly  is  refreshing  to  get  hold  of  at^ook  of  Sermons  like  this.  The  old, worn-out  ana 
stereotyped  phrases  that  are  met  with  in  ninety-nine  out  of  a  hundred  of  every  book  of 
sermons  you  take  up  are  here  lacking.  Instead  of  which  you  find  fresh,  piquant  language, 
embodying  thought  that  may  have  been  struggling  in  your  mind  years  past  for  an  ex- 
pression, and  the  sublime  truths  of  Christianity  brought  home  to  you  with  a  truthfulneaf 
and  a  force  you  cannot  in  any  manner  resist." 


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Douglass  Gokpje.    Price  63  cents. 

"It  will  be  found  and  prized  as  a  valuable  and  convenient  book  of  reference. " — Christian 
Ciserver. 

"  It  is  a  book  for  all  the  world,  and  will,  we  predict,  be  found  in  every  library  throughout 
'English  Christendom.' " — JV.  F.  Weekly  Chronicle. 

"  The  author  has  studied  brevity,  comprehensiveness  and  accuracy  ;  and  we  know  of  no 
•work  so  fairly  and  fully  describing  the  history,  doctrines,  and  present  state  of  all  the  differ 
ent  denominations  of  the  country  as  this." — N.  Y.  Evangelist. 

CHRISTIAN  GREATNESS;  A  discourse  on  the  death  of  Friend  Ham 

phrey.    By  AVilliam  Hague,  D.  D.     Price  12|  cents. 

COMPENDIUM  OF   THE  FAITH  OF  THE  BAPTISTS.    Paper.  Price 

4  cents. — Every  Church  should  get  a  supply  for  its  members. 

LORENZO  DOW'S  COMPLETE  WORKS.    The  dealings  of  God,  Man, 

and  the  Devil ;  as  exemplified  in  the  life.  Experience,  and  Travels  of  Lorenzo  Dow,  in  a 
period  of  over  half  a  century.  Together  with  his  Polemic  and  Miscellaneous  Writinss. 
complete;  to  which  is  added 

THE  VICISSITUDES  OF  LIFE.    By  Peggy  Dow. 

"  Many  shall  run  to  and  fro,  and  knowledge  shall  be  increased. — David." 
With  an  introductory  Essay,  by  the  Rev.  John  Dowung,  D.D.,  of  New  York,  author  of 
History  of  Romanism,  d-c.    Two  vohimes  in  one.  8vo.  350  pp.     Embossed  binding,  embel- 
lished with  Steel  Portraits  of  Lorenzo  and  Peggy  Dow.     Price  $2  50. 
One  month  he  would  be  heard  of  laboring  for  the  good  of  souls,  in  his  own  pecuUar  way, 
In  the  neighborhood  of  his  native  New  England  home  ;  the  next,  perhaps,  braving  the  frost 
and  snow  of  a  Canadian  winter;  the  next  on  his  way  to  Ireland  or  to  England,  in  the  prose- 
eecution  of  the  same  benevolent  purpose  ;  and  six  months  afterwards,  perhaps,  encounter- 
ing the  dangers  and  hardships  of  a  Georgia  or  Kentucky  wilderness,  or  fleeing  for  his  life 
from  the  tomahawk  or  the  Scalping-knife  of  the  Indian  savage,  in  the  then  untrodden  wilds 
of  the  great  Valley  of  the  West. 

Pale,  sallow,  and  somewhat  consumptive  in  the  appearance  of  his  countenance  ;  dressed 
in  the  plainesi  attire,  with  his  single-breasted  coat,  often  worn  thread-bare — and  in  his  later 
vears  wearing  a  long  flowing  patriarchal  beard  ;  his  whole  appearance  was  such  as  to  awaken 
a  high  degree  of  curiosity  and  interest. 

■rhen  the  suddenness  and  the  promptitude  of  his  advent  in  a  town  or  village,  at  the  very 
h.->\\T  and  minute  he  had  appointed,  perhaps  some  twelve  or  eighteen  months  before,  the 
boldness  with  which  he  would  attack  the  ruling  vices,  and  denounce  wickedness — either  :n 
h  gh  places  or  low — the  general  adaptation  of  his  dry  and  caustic  rebukes  to  the  sin  and  fol- 
lies prevalent  in  places  he  visited,  and  which  he  seemed  to  know  almost  intuitively  ;  to- 
gether with  the  biting  sarcasm  and  strong  mother-wit  that  pervaded  his  addresses  ;— all 
served  to  invest  the  approach  to  any  place  of  the  ''  crazy  preacher,"  (as  he  was  frequently 
called),  with  an  air  of  singular  and  almost  romantic  interest. 

Scarcely  a  neighborhood,  from  Canada  to  Georgia,  or  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Mississippi, 
that  has  not  some  tradition  to  relate,  or  some  tale  to  tell  of  the  visit  and  the  preaching  of 
Lorenzo  Dow  :  and  scarcely  an  old  man  in  all  those  regions  that  has  not  some  one  or  more 
j)t  the  witty  Ra>  mgs  of  Lorenzo  Dow  to  relate  to  his  children  and  his  grand-children. — Extrad 
from  (he  IrUrodudion. 

O 


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THE  ENGLISH  BIBLE  ;  Or,  History  of  the  Translation  of  the  Holy 

Scriptures  into  tbe  English  Tongue.  With  Specimens  of  the  early  English  Versions,  and 
Portraits  of  WicklifiFe  and  Tyndale.  By  Mrs.  H.  0.  Con  ant.  1  vol.,  8vo.  Price  $1  25. 
This  work  presents  a  continuous  view  of  the  progress  of  Bible-translation,  in  the  English 
language,  from  the  first  version  by  Wickliffe  in  1380,  to  the  last,  made  by  order  of  King 
James  in  ICll ;  giving  an  account  of  the  successive  English  versions  of  Wicklifie,  Tyndale, 
Coverdale,  Taverner,  Cranmer,  theGenevan  Exiles,  the  Bishops,  the  Douay  (Catholic  ver- 
sion, and  King  James'  Eevision,  and  of  the  relation  of  the  earlier  versions  to  the  one  now  in 
use.    The  subject  embraces  the  leading  epochs  of  Anglo-Saxon  civilization  and  freedom. 

C  O  N  T  E  N  T8 : 

separated  from  the  Papacy.    Anne's  influ- 
ence in  favor  of  the  Bible. 

Chaptee  X.— EflForts  by  King  and  Clergy 
to  entrap  Tyndale.  His  imprisonment 
and  martvrdom. 

Chaptee  1:I.— Triumph  of  the  Principle. 
Tyndale's  Bible  authorised  to  be  read  in 
public  and  in  private,  without  restriction. 

Chapter  XII. — Coverdale's  Bible. 

Chaptee  XIII. — Taverner's  Bible. 

Chapter  XIV. — Cranmer's  Bible.  The 
Anglican  Church.  liise  of  Puritanism  in 
the  Church. 

Chapter  XV  .—The  fieign  of  Terror.  Cha- 
racter of  Bloody  Mary.  Protestant  Mar- 
tyrs and  Exiles. 

Chapter  XVI.— The  Genevan  Version.  Its 
superior  Scholarship.  Its  influence  on 
the  development  of  Puritanism  in  the 
Church.  The  Family  Bible  of  England 
for  nearly  a  centurv. 

Chapter  XVII. — the  Bishop's  Bible. 
Queen  Elizabeth's  Policy  with  reference 
to  the  Church.  Conflict  between  Prelacy 
and  Puritanism. 

Chapter  XVIII.— The  Bishop's  Bible- 
continued.  Motives  of  its  projector.  Arch- 
bishop Parker.  First  English  Version  of 
the  Scriptures  bearing  the  impress  of 
party. 

Chaptee  XIX.— Khemish  or  Douay  Bible; 
the  Catholic  Version.  Its  Origin,  Charac- 
ter and  Influence. 

Chapter  XX.— The  Common  Version.  State 
of  Parties  in  the  Cluirch  at  James'  Acces- 
sion. Hampton  Court  Conference ;  tri. 
umph  of  the  prelatical  party.  Proposa 
for  a  Eevision  of  the  Church-Bille  favor- 
ably received  by  the  King.  His  motives. 
His  plan  for  the  work. 

Chapter  XXI.— The  Common  Version — 
continued.  The  Kings  liberal  arrange- 
ments for  securing  and  rewarding  compe- 
tent revisers.  Principles  of  translation 
prescribed  by  the  King;  their  influence 
on  the  character  of  the  Version.  Its  Scho- 
larship. Contemporaneous  criticism.  Ob- 
stacles to  its  reception  within  and  without 
the  Church.  The  just  claims  of  the  Com- 
mon Version. 

Chapter  XXII.— Eetrospcct.  Leading  cha- 
racteristics and  influence  of  English  Bible, 
Translation.  New  and  brilliant  era  of 
Sacred  Learning,  Progress  in  evely 
branch  of  Biblical  knowledge.  Eestora- 
tion  of  the  Original  Text  for  the  use  of  the 
learned.  Present  state  of  Scholarship  two 
centuries  in  advance  of  the  En 'lish  Bible. 


TABLE    OF 

PART  FIRST. 
ENGLAND  WITHOUT  THE  BIBLE. 
Chapter  I.— The  Bible  the  People's  Char- 
ter.   Relation  of  Wicklifi'e  to  his  age. 
Chapter  II.— Eeign  of  Priestcraft     The 

Papal  Array  in  England. 
Chapter  III. — Counter-influences;   their 

inefiiciencv. 
Chaptee  IV.— Wickliff'e,  the  Bible- Apostle. 
CnA.PTEE  V. — Persecution  of  Wicklifife  by 

Papal  Clergy. 
Chapter  VI. — Wickliife's  Views  of  the 
New-Testament  Ministry.    Character  and 
influence  of  his  "  poore  priestes." 
Chapter  VII.— Wicklifl'e  attacks  the  strong- 
hold of  Popery.    Silenced  as  Theological 
Professor  at  Oxford. 
Chapter  VIIL— Concentrates  his  labors  on 
the  enlightening  of  the  common  people. 
Originates  Ecligious  Tracts. 
Chapter  IX. —  Wicklife's  BihU.    Its  per- 
manent influence  on  English  Chrstianity, 
andon  the  English  language  and  literature. 

PART  SECOND. 

AGE  OF  BIBLE  TRANSLATION  IN 
ENGLAND. 

1525-1611. 

Chapter  I. — Continued  Influence  of  Wick- 
liff'e's  Bible  among  the  people.  Revival 
of  classical  and  sacred  learning  In  the 
schools.    Opposition  of  the  Clergy. 

Chapter  II.— William  Tyndale's  New  Tes- 
tament.   Proscribed  by  Church  and  State. 

Chapter  III.  —  Tyndale's  Reformatory 
Writings. 

Chapter  IV. — Persecution  of  Tyndale  by 
'      Cardinal  Wolsey. 

Chapter  V.— The  New  Antagonist.  Cha- 
racter of  Sir  Thomas  Moore.  His  early 
connection  with  the  cause  of  Church-Re- 
form. 

Cn.APTER  VI. — ^The  theoretical  Reformer 
becomes  the  practical  Conservative.  Dis- 
trusts the  Ecformation  as  revolutionary 
in  its  tendency.  Grounds  of  his  condem- 
nation of  Tyndale's  New  Testament. 

Chapter  VII.— Sir  Thomas  Moore  as  Lord 
Chancellor.  The  civil  power  now  the 
leader  in  persecution.  Tyndale's  New 
Testament  proscribed  by  royal  manifesto. 
Bible-burning  at  Paul's  Cross. 

Chapter  VIII.— Frith  Tyndale^s  youthful 
assistant  in  Bible-translation.  His  brilliant 
and  heroic  character     His  martyrdom. 

Chapter  IX. — Anne  Boleyn,  the  Royal  Pa- 
troness.   The  King's  Divorce.    England 


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